fente

cleft, fissure, crack (in rock); split, crack (in wood); slit, slot; slit (in skirt), vent (in jacket etc.); fissure

Attested since the 14th century. Either from Vulgar Latin *findita, feminine of *finditus, as an alternate past participle of Latin findō (normally fissus), or a later formation. Either way equivalent to fendre + -te.