peephole

American

[peep-hohl] / ˈpipˌhoʊl /

noun

a small hole or opening through which to peep or look, as in a door.

peephole British

/ ˈpiːpˌhəʊl /

noun

a small aperture, such as one in the door of a flat for observing callers before opening

"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

Etymology

Origin of peephole

First recorded in 1675–85; peep ¹ + hole

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

He then heard a second, "very aggressive knock" but did not see anyone when he looked through the peephole.

From BBC • May 9, 2024

The door was not equipped with a peephole, so Rehn couldn’t see who was demanding she open up.

From Seattle Times • Nov. 13, 2023

She remains there for an indefinite amount of time, rummaging through the preserves, catching rainwater, peering out of a peephole.

From New York Times • Dec. 1, 2022

"I was making breakfast when the doorbell rang. I looked through the peephole but didn't see anybody. I opened the door and there he was, lying on the mat," a visibly upset Lopez told reporters.

From Reuters • Oct. 20, 2022

Stretched onto my tippy toes, I peeked through the peephole.

From "Sir Fig Newton and the Science of Persistence" by Sonja Thomas

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023