knothole

[not-hohl]

noun

a hole in a board or plank formed by the falling out of a knot or a portion of a knot.

Origin of knothole

First recorded in 1720–30; knot¹ + hole

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for knothole

Historical Examples of knothole

If Seth had arrived he could shout through that knothole and possibly be heard.
The Woman-Haters
Joseph C. Lincoln
No nephew of mine is going to grow up and be a knothole audience.
Peck's Uncle Ike and The Red Headed Boy
George W. Peck
Grim of face, the boy took his stand once more at the knothole.
Frank of Freedom Hill
Samuel A. Derieux
Only the boy, peering through the knothole, was tense and vibrant.
Frank of Freedom Hill
Samuel A. Derieux
From now on, day and night, there will be a cat at the knothole, and 'ware mouse!
The Million Dollar Mystery
Harold MacGrath

British Dictionary definitions for knothole

knothole

noun

a hole in a piece of wood where a knot has been

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 knothole

1726, see knot (n.) + hole (n.).