rathole

[ rat-hohl ]
/ ˈrætˌhoʊl /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR rathole ON THESAURUS.COM

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 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, ratify
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

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