Vent'ail noun [ Old French ventaille , French ventail . See Ventilate , and confer Aventail .] That part of a helmet which is intended for the admission of air, -- sometimes in the visor. Spenser. « Her ventail up so high that he descried Her goodly vis... Found on http://www.encyclo.co.uk/webster/V/14
In armour, a ventail was the lower movable part of the front of the helmet, which admitted air for breathing, the upper part being the visor. Found on http://www.probertencyclopaedia.com/browse/FV.HTM