boilover en · NOUN
Etymology
Deverbal from boil over.
Meanings
- (countable, uncountable) A hazardous situation where an attempt is made to extinguish semi-enclosed oil- or petrochemical-fuelled fire with water, generating steam which propels the burning fuel outwards.
-
(Australia, New-Zealand, countable, slang) A sporting event with an unexpected outcome, especially a horse race where the favourite fails to win.
[…] there was not much good horsemanship. The Derby itself was an ordinary race, something of a boilover for Dark Star […]
1953, Pastoralists' Review (volume 63, issues 7-12, page 716)
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| boilovers | Number=Plur | lexicographic |