bolthole

See also: bolt-hole

English

Alternative forms

Etymology

bolt + hole

Noun

bolthole (plural boltholes)

  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. (figurative) A second home, etc. where a person can go to escape the stresses of everyday life.
    a bolthole in the Dordogne
    • 1965, Herbert, Frank, Dune (Science Fiction), New York: Ace Books, →OCLC, page 205:
      “We’ll find a home among the Fremen,” Paul said, “where your Missionaria Protectiva has bought us a bolt hole.”
      They’ve prepared a way for us in the desert, Jessica told herself. But how can he know of the Missionaria Protectiva?
    • 2016 February 29, Oliver Wainwright, “Two pools, 13 bathrooms and 300 for dinner: the modernist fun palaces of Palm Springs”, in The Guardian:
      In the 1950s, Hollywood decamped to the desert – bankrolling the world’s most daring modernist architects to create ever more experimental boltholes.

Translations

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