dustout

plural dustouts · alternative dust-out

1. countableuncountableA cloud of dust or duststorm that creates conditions of inadequate visibility.

   Hundreds of Kanker's troops would have to be thrown into the job of plugging the holes, a difficult task under ideal conditions, but a pig of a task in a “dustout”.

   2012, David Fletcher, Ticklers, →ISBN, page 69

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   He said the dust collecting units were not operating as they should in October 1984 and there were “quite a few" dustouts. These, he claimed, would require one to vacate the basement as soon as possible by walking along the side of the walls in the dark.

   1986, Labor Arbitration Reports - Volume 85, page 1181

2. countableuncountableA prankster who misleads others by giving false or exaggerated information.

   "He is the greatest old dustout," said Lord Chiltern, disrespectfully.

   2009, Anthony Trollope, Phineas Finn: The Irish Member, →ISBN

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   This was a sight check, to see if he looked like some dustout or merely sounded like one.

   2010, Jon Courtenay Grimwood, Pashazade: The Arabesk Trilogy, →ISBN

3. countableuncountableFallout; the event of small dust particles falling to the ground in sufficient quantities that they cause a problem.

   Special seals, which fit over the cutter opening when it is out of the flow, prevent dustout and sample contamination.

   1968, Canadian Chemical Processing - Volume 52, page 36

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   The levels of activity in atmospheric fallout were determined in rain and dustout was collected on vaseline-coated sheets.

   1960, Journal, American Water Works Association- Volume 52, Issues 1-6, page 90