bolt-hole

[ bohlt-hohl ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

a hole in the ground, protected opening in bushes, etc., into which an animal can flee when pursued or frightened.
a place or avenue of escape or refuge:
The remote mountain village was a safe bolt-hole for refugees during the war.

bolt hole

First recorded in 1830–40

He scuttled through the tortuous windings of the burrow, and through a bolt-hole to the open air.

A bolt-hole should be of a size to enable the bolt to be pushed in, or, at any rate, not more than gently tapped in.

There are the two holes at the ends where the doors turned on their pivots, and the bolt-hole in the middle.

When she comes out again it is as a rabbit comes from a bolt-hole when a ferret is just behind.

One of these billets was split, and a splinter of curious shape had partially entered a bolt hole.

April 19, 2024tortuous

[tawr-choo-uhs ]

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