Hole and corner

Hole and corner
Hole Hole (h[=o]l), n. [OE. hol, hole, AS. hol, hole, cavern, from hol, a., hollow; akin to D. hol, OHG. hol, G. hohl, Dan. huul hollow, hul hole, Sw. h[*a]l, Icel. hola; prob. from the root of AS. helan to conceal. See {Hele}, {Hell}, and cf. {Hold} of a ship.] 1. A hollow place or cavity; an excavation; a pit; an opening in or through a solid body, a fabric, etc.; a perforation; a rent; a fissure. [1913 Webster]

The holes where eyes should be. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

The blind walls Were full of chinks and holes. --Tennyson. [1913 Webster]

The priest took a chest, and bored a hole in the lid. --2 Kings xii. 9. [1913 Webster]

2. An excavation in the ground, made by an animal to live in, or a natural cavity inhabited by an animal; hence, a low, narrow, or dark lodging or place; a mean habitation. --Dryden. [1913 Webster]

The foxes have holes, . . . but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head. --Luke ix. 58.

3. (Games) (a) A small cavity used in some games, usually one into which a marble or ball is to be played or driven; hence, a score made by playing a marble or ball into such a hole, as in golf. (b) (Fives) At Eton College, England, that part of the floor of the court between the step and the pepperbox. [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

Syn: Hollow; concavity; aperture; rent; fissure; crevice; orifice; interstice; perforation; excavation; pit; cave; den; cell. [1913 Webster]

{Hole and corner}, clandestine, underhand. [Colloq.] ``The wretched trickery of hole and corner buffery.'' --Dickens.

{Hole board} (Fancy Weaving), a board having holes through which cords pass which lift certain warp threads; -- called also {compass board}. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • hole-and-corner — ► hole and corner secret. Main Entry: ↑hole …   English terms dictionary

  • hole-and-corner — [hōl′ən kôr΄nər] adj. 1. unimportant, humdrum, etc. 2. kept secret, esp. to avoid blame or punishment …   English World dictionary

  • hole-and-corner — adjective 1. relating to the peripheral and unimportant aspects of life a hole and corner life in some obscure community H.G.Wells • Syn: ↑hole in corner • Similar to: ↑insignificant, ↑unimportant 2. conducted with or marked by hidden aims or… …   Useful english dictionary

  • hole-and-corner — /hohl euhn kawr neuhr/, adj. 1. secretive; clandestine; furtive: The political situation was full of hole and corner intrigue. 2. trivial and colorless: She was living a hole and corner existence of daily drudgery. Also, hole in corner /hohl in… …   Universalium

  • hole-and-corner — British, British hole and corner activities are kept secret, usually because they are dishonest. I don t want any more hole in the corner deals, from now all our business will be done in the open. (always before noun) …   New idioms dictionary

  • hole-and-corner — adjective Conducted in secret; clandestine. Whatever made you think in the first place that I would give up the security of my happy marriage for a hole and corner affair with you? Syn: cloak and dagger …   Wiktionary

  • hole-and-corner — UK / US adjective done in a secret and perhaps dishonest way His execution was a hole and corner affair …   English dictionary

  • hole-and-corner — hole′ and cor′ner or hole′ in cor′ner adj. secretive; furtive …   From formal English to slang

  • Hole and Corner man — noun Australian History a person who advocated severity in dealing with transported convicts and was opposed to the emancipists …  

  • hole-in-corner — adjective relating to the peripheral and unimportant aspects of life a hole and corner life in some obscure community H.G.Wells • Syn: ↑hole and corner • Similar to: ↑insignificant, ↑unimportant * * * adjective see …   Useful english dictionary

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