manhole
[man-hohl]
- a hole, usually with a cover, through which a person may enter a sewer, drain, steam boiler, etc., especially one located in a city street.
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Origin of manhole
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for manhole
Contemporary Examples
One of the primary reasons the FMCSA gave for the shutdown was the manhole cover incident.
The Government’s Cheap, Dishonest Campaign Against the Chinatown Bus IndustryJim Epstein
November 2, 2013
From the modern chastity belt to a bag that disguises as a manhole, Soraya Roberts on the growing trend of protective fashion.
From the Anti-Rape Bra to Chastity Belts: How Women Use Clothing for ProtectionSoraya Roberts
June 5, 2013
She also designed an emergency "manhole bag," a flat purse that could be thrown on the ground to double as a sewer.
From the Anti-Rape Bra to Chastity Belts: How Women Use Clothing for ProtectionSoraya Roberts
June 5, 2013
The only escape available to him appears in the form of a manhole, through which he escapes underground.
Historical Examples
“There is a manhole of some sort,” the electrical wizard exclaimed.
It was empty then, and its manhole was the foremost one in the alleyway.
TyphoonJoseph Conrad
Carr hissed in Ora's ear as his fingers found the rim of the manhole.
Creatures of VibrationHarl Vincent
A manhole had to be put in the top and a sump in the bottom.
Concrete ConstructionHalbert P. Gillette
If I served you right, I would drop you through the manhole, just to wake you up.
Doctor Jones' PicnicS. E. Chapman
manhole
- Also called: inspection chamber a shaft with a removable cover that leads down to a sewer or drain
- a hole, usually with a detachable cover, through which a man can enter a boiler, tank, etc
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Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for manhole
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper