cubbyhole
[kuhb-ee-hohl]
- pigeonhole.
- a small, snug place.
Show More
Origin of cubbyhole
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for cubbyhole
Historical Examples
Murgatroyd remained in his cubbyhole, his tail curled over his nose.
Pariah PlanetMurray Leinster
He went to sleep, with Murgatroyd curled up in his cubbyhole.
Pariah PlanetMurray Leinster
But he marched away, back to the cubbyhole in which he had awakened.
Sand DoomWilliam Fitzgerald Jenkins
Back in his cubbyhole downstairs, Walter stared hopelessly at the reports.
Meeting of the BoardAlan Edward Nourse
He began to empty the cubbyhole of all the items that had been packed into it for storage.
The Pirates of ErsatzMurray Leinster
cubbyhole
- a small enclosed space or room
- any small compartment, such as a pigeonhole
Show More
Often shortened to: cubby (ˈkʌbɪ)
Word Origin
C19: from dialect cub cattle pen; see cove 1
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for cubbyhole
n.
1825, the first element possibly from a diminutive of cub "stall, pen, cattle shed, coop, hutch" (1540s), a dialect word with apparent cognates in Low German (e.g. East Frisian kubbing, Dutch kub). Or related to cuddy "small room, cupboard" (1793), originally "small cabin in a boat" (1650s), from Dutch kajuit, from French cahute. Or perhaps simply a children's made-up word.
Show More
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper