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.

Idioms about rathole

down the rathole, for a worthless purpose or purposes: seeing your inheritance disappear down the rathole.

First recorded in 1805–15; rat + hole

Who among us wants $50 billion of our tax dollars thrown down the rat hole of still trying to save GM?
Goodbye, GM | Michael Moore | June 1, 2009 | THE DAILY BEAST
The hole made in the roof of the tunnel was not much larger than a rat-hole and could not be seen from the prison.
Famous Adventures And Prison Escapes of the Civil War | Various
"Then the Cat will ask if it's a rat-hole," said Davy, laughing at the idea.
Davy and The Goblin | Charles E. Carryl
So that's how the first three eggs were taken, but no more were, for Papa Wibblewobble stopped up the rat hole.
Lulu, Alice and Jimmie Wibblewobble | Howard R. Garis
That, sider brandee taken inwardly in large quantitys iz good—for a rat hole.
Josh Billings, Hiz Sayings | Henry Wheeler Shaw

And all the time he was looking at that girl as intent and eager as a Scotch terrier at a rat hole.
Letters from a Self-Made Merchant to His Son | George Horace Lorimer

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