ventilate v.
1. to stab.
Bulletin (Sydney) 31 Jan. 7/1: The man who kept the place, however, attempted to close the door on Garo (etc.), when that exasperated individual ventilated the skin of the wine-shop keeper to such an extent, that if he serves his customers at all, he has to serve them from heaven. |
2. (orig. US) to shoot, to kill with a bullet; thus ventilation n., shooting.
Slaver’s Adventures 99: A few of your countrymen took it into their heads that our hides wanted ventilating. | ||
Bar-20 i: ‘Had a argument with C 80 out’n th’ line.’ ‘Go ’way! Ventilate enny?’ ‘One.’. | ||
Door of Dread 85: If any guy tries to stop me from walkin out o’ this house, I’ll ventilate ’em first, and ventilate ’em good. | ||
Sudden 58: That there ventilation in my lid weren’t there night before last. | ||
Thrilling Detective Feb. 🌐 Another minute and Hooker would ventilate him with hot lead. | ‘Shoulder Straps’||
Teen-Age Gangs 29: He ain’t been back. So you got to assume that he made contact. Unless he’s been ventilated. | ||
Big Easy 75: Whitey don’t know you got one [...] not till you pull it out and ventilate him. | ||
Too Many Crooks Spoil the Caper 161: Grab a cloud you bums or I’ll ventilate you! | ||
(con. 1920s) Emerald Square 43: It was a case of ‘Claw sky, hombre’ or be ventilated. | ||
Blacktop Wasteland 208: They day after they had watched him ventilate Quan. | ||
Bobby March Will Live Forever 43: The real question was whether she left before or after Donny MacRae got himself ventilated. |