puzzle box

American  

noun

Psychology.

1. an enclosure, used in experiments in animal learning, from which an animal must escape or in which it must manipulate various devices.

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Etymology

Origin of puzzle box

First recorded in 1865–70

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

puzzle box

Squirrels should be smart enough to take the easy pickings over the puzzle box.

From Slate ● Jan. 25, 2026

Not only did immigrants see that residents were opening the puzzle box in a new way, but in some groups, the newcomers also discovered that residents scored a superior reward by doing so.

From Science Daily ● Nov. 14, 2024

This puzzle box of a play conceals conspiracies inside a master conspiracy.

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 3, 2024

Using the same test given to species like chimps to see how the animals share information with one another, researchers gave bumblebees a puzzle box with red or blue tabs.

From Salon ● Nov. 16, 2023

Constantine asked, studying the puzzle box through her black-rimmed glasses.

From "The Help" by Kathryn Stockett