[f. BOOM v.1, 2, 3.]
1. The emitting of a deep, resonant sound.
1774. Goldsm., Nat. Hist., III. 214. Of all sounds there is none so dismally hollow as the booming of a bittern.
1855. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., IV. 535. The distant booming of cannon was heard … from the batteries of the Tower.
1878. Black, Green Past., xxviii. 226. The booming of the fog-horn at night is one of the most horrid sounds in the world.
2. ‘The accumulation and sudden discharge of a quantity of water (in placer mining, where water is scarce).’ Raymond, Mining Gloss., 1881.
1880. Toronto Globe, Miners in the Far West have a practice of conducting explorations by a means which they call ‘booming.’ It consists in damming up some gorge on a mountain side and allowing the water from melting snow to accumulate till an immense reservoir has been formed. When the pond is full an outlet is made, and the water rushes down with irresistible force, overwhelming everything in its path…. Rich veins and deposits of ore are often uncovered by this process.
3. See BOOM sb.3, BOON v.3
1881. Chicago Times, 1 June. The Texas market is also advised as active, and in some cases excited, but … this ‘booming’ tendency is at least a little premature.
