Bolthole
noun
noun ·Rare ·Advanced level
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A hole in an animal’s den, or through a wall or fence, used for escape or emergency exit, i.e., a hole the animal may bolt through.
- 2 A hidden place of emergency refuge. figuratively
"There was a guard at the front doors. He was smoking a cigarette; she'd seen the light from a great distance. They'd grown incautious in the absence of her continual raids, probably imagining she'd died of some viral infection alone in one of the countless caves ringing the forest. She'd seen their hunting parties canvassing the area, had prepared a few extra boltholes in case they found the one she'd shared with Yésica, but it hadn't proven necessary. Maybe they didn't really want to find her."
- 3 A second home, etc., where one can seek an escape or refuge from the stresses of everyday life. figuratively
"a bolthole in the Dordogne"
Example
More examples"The rock climber put his finger in the bolthole on the wall."
Etymology
From bolt + hole.
Related phrases
More for "bolthole"
Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.