snorkel
pronunciation
How to pronounce snorkel in British English:
UK [ˈsnɔːkl]
How to pronounce snorkel in American English:
US [ˈsnɔːrkl]
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- Noun:
- breathing device consisting of a bent tube fitting into a swimmer's mouth and extending above the surface; allows swimmer to breathe while face down in the water
- air passage provided by a retractable device containing intake and exhaust pipes; permits a submarine to stay submerged for extended periods of time
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- Verb:
- dive with a snorkel
Word Origin
- snorkel (n.)
- 1944, "airshaft for submarines," from German Schnorchel, from German navy slang Schnorchel "nose, snout," related to schnarchen "to snore" (see snore (n.)). So called from its resemblance to a nose and its noise when in use. The anglicized spelling first recorded 1949. The meaning "curved tube used by a swimmer to breathe under water" is first recorded 1951.
Example
- 1. Did you put on a snorkel before you dove ?
- 2. Let 's snorkel and swim .
- 3. His decompression is as extreme : a 45-acre private bahamian island , where he can snorkel among the barracuda .
- 4. With a snorkel , however , a diver can stay under water for quite a long time .
- 5. Paul locked his legs under the lip of the ice so he could remain motionless , breathing through a snorkel so as not to spook the penguins when they arrived .