SIPHONING
Verb
siphoning
present participle of siphon
Source: Wiktionary
SIPHON
Si"phon, n. Etym: [F. siphon, L. sipho, -onis, fr. Gr.
1. A device, consisting of a pipe or tube bent so as to form two
branches or legs of unequal length, by which a liquid can be
transferred to a lower level, as from one vessel to another, over an
intermediate elevation, by the action of the pressure of the
atmosphere in forcing the liquid up the shorter branch of the pipe
immersed in it, while the continued excess of weight of the liquid in
the longer branch (when once filled) causes a continuous flow. The
flow takes place only when the discharging extremity of the pipe ia
lower than the higher liquid surface, and when no part of the pipe is
higher above the surface than the same liquid will rise by
atmospheric pressure; that is, about 33 feet for water, and 30 inches
for mercury, near the sea level.
2. (Zoöl.)
(a) One of the tubes or folds of the mantle border of a bivalve or
gastropod mollusk by which water is conducted into the gill cavity.
See Illust. under Mya, and Lamellibranchiata.
(b) The anterior prolongation of the margin of any gastropod shell
for the protection of the soft siphon.
(c) The tubular organ through which water is ejected from the gill
cavity of a cephaloid. It serves as a locomotive organ, by guiding
and confining the jet of water. Called also siphuncle. See Illust.
under Loligo, and Dibranchiata.
(d) The siphuncle of a cephalopod shell.
(e) The sucking proboscis of certain parasitic insects and
crustaceans.
(f) A sproutlike prolongation in front of the mouth of many
gephyreans.
(g) A tubular organ connected both with the esophagus and the
intestine of certain sea urchins and annelids.
3. A siphon bottle. Inverted siphon, a tube bent like a siphon, but
having the branches turned upward; specifically (Hydraulic
Engineering), a pipe for conducting water beneath a depressed place,
as from one hill to another across an intervening valley, following
the depression of the ground.
– Siphon barometer. See under Barometer.
– Siphon bottle, a bottle for holding aërated water, which is
driven out through a bent tube in the neck by the gas within the
bottle when a valve in the tube is opened; -- called also gazogene,
and siphoid.
– Siphon condenser, a condenser for a steam engine, in which the
vacuum is maintained by the downward flow of water through a vertical
pipe of great height.
– Siphon cup, a cup with a siphon attached for carrying off any
liquid in it; specifically (Mach.), an oil cup in which oil is
carried over the edge of a tube in a cotton wick, and so reaches the
surface to be lubricated.
– Siphon gauge. See under Gauge.
– Siphon pump, a jet pump. See under Jet, n.
Si"phon, v. t. (Chem.)
Definition: To convey, or draw off, by means of a siphon, as a liquid from
one vessel to another at a lower level.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition