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rathole

[ rat-hohl ]
/ ˈrætˌhoʊl /
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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.

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Idioms for rathole

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

Origin of rathole

First recorded in 1805–15; rat + hole

Words nearby rathole

rathe, Rathenau, rather, Rathke, Rathke's pouch, rathole, rathouse, rathskeller, raticide, ratification, ratified
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

Words related to rathole

hut, shack, shanty, cottage, lean-to, box, shed, chalet, cot, shelter, lodge, hovel, cabin, bungalow, hutch, dump, stall, den, pigpen, hole

Example sentences from the Web for rathole

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