early 15c., "funnel-shaped net for catching birds," from Middle French tonnelle "net," or tonel "cask," diminutive of Old French tonne "tun, cask for liquids," possibly from the same source as Old English tunne (see tun).
Sense of "tube, pipe" (1540s) developed in English and led to sense of "underground passage" (1660s). This sense subsequently has been borrowed into French (1878). The earlier native word for this was mine (n.). Meaning "burrow of an animal" is from 1873. Tunnel vision first recorded 1912. The amusement park tunnel of love is attested from 1911 (in reference to New York's Luna Park). The figurative light at the end of the tunnel has been seen since 1882.
The "Tunnel of Love," an attraction found at many amusement parks, has been responsible for a surprising number of proposals. In this and similar devices, couples are allowed to drift through dark or semi-dark underground caverns, usually in a boat or gondola borne on an artificial stream of water. ... Their dim interiors often give a bashful young man the opportunity to propose. ["The American Magazine," July 1922]
tunnel (v.)
"excavate underground," 1795, from tunnel (n.). From 1570s as "furnish with a tunnel." Related: Tunneled; tunneling.
实用例句
1. The Channel Tunnel project is the biggest civil engineering project in Europe.
英吉利海峡隧道是欧洲最大的土木工程。
来自柯林斯例句
2. The Channel tunnel was due to open towards the end of 1993.
海峡隧道预计1993年年底前开通。
来自柯林斯例句
3. A host of problems may delay the opening of the Channel Tunnel.
可能推迟英吉利海峡隧道开通的问题一大筐。
来自柯林斯例句
4. He was helping wire up the Channel Tunnel last season.
他上一季在协助英吉利海峡隧道的电缆铺设工作.
来自柯林斯例句
5. The caterpillars tunnel into the fruit to grow and mature.
