rathole

[rat-hohl]

noun

a hole made by a rat, as into a room, barn, etc.: The first chore in the old building is to plug up the ratholes.

the burrow or shelter of a rat.

any small and uncomfortable room, office, apartment, etc., especially one that is dirty or disordered: He lives in a rathole near the docks.

Origin of rathole

First recorded in 1805–15; rat + hole

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

Examples from the Web for rat-hole

Historical Examples of rat-hole

There is some stolen stuff hidden in this rat-hole, I expect.
The White Lie
William Le Queux
Even if it were only a rat-hole, he might be able to enlarge it, now that he had tools with which to work.
The Copper Princess
Kirk Munroe
The day, which was only dawning, still left many shadows in the Rat-Hole.
Notre-Dame de Paris
Victor Hugo
"Then the Cat will ask if it's a rat-hole," said Davy, laughing at the idea.
Davy and The Goblin
Charles E. Carryl
He poured in the guineas, but it was like pouring water into a rat-hole.
The Heart of the White Mountains, Their Legend and Scenery
Samuel Adams Drake

Word Origin and History for rat-hole

also rathole, 1812 in figurative sense of "nasty, messy place;" rat (n.) + hole (n.). As "bottomless hole" (especially one where money goes) from 1961.