tunnelled, -eled, ppl. a.
(ˈtʌnəld)
[f. tunnel v. (and n.) + -ed.]
† 1. Formed like a pipe or tube. Obs.
| 1713 Derham Phys.-Theol. iv. xiii. (1727) 234 note, The Phalænæ-Tribe..inhabit the tunnelled, convolved Leaves. |
b. Perforated with a tube.
| 1890 Billings Nat. Med. Dict., Tunnelled, term applied to sounds or other instruments having a short tube or tunnel, through which a fine bougie..passes. |
c. Enclosed in a tunnel-like cavity.
| 1901 Westm. Gaz. 13 May 5/3 A double-funnelled lifeboat, with a tunnelled screw, which will enable her to go in safety into shallow waters and amongst rocks, was launched at Harwich on Saturday. |
† 2. Having a tunnel (sense 2), as a chimney.
| 1818 Scott Br. Lamm. x, The soot..showered down the huge tunnelled chimneys. |
3. Excavated as, or by, a tunnel; formed by tunnelling.
| 1856 Kane Arct. Expl. I. xxix. 380 An expansion of the tunnelled entrance made an appendage of..two feet more. 1861 Wilson & Geikie Mem. E. Forbes viii. 206 The caves and tunnelled caverns worn out by the Atlantic breakers. 1879 J. Grant in Cassell's Techn. Educ. v. 286 A tunnelled staircase led to the roof. 1898 P. Manson Trop. Diseases xxxiv. 525 In the latter [the brain] it [the distomum Ringesi] forms a sort of tunnelled tumour. |