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peephole

peephole

19 2.9
A small hole in a door to look through without being seen
  • noun
  • /ˈpiːpˌhoʊl/
translation icon : mirilla
  • Through the peephole, I could barely see the face of an unfamiliar man wrapped in a tallis.
  • look through the peephole
  • peer through the peephole
  • check the peephole

She's looking into the, through these peepholes, into the inner chambers under the the tombs, and she sees something.

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Examples

  • You need to look through that peephole before you answer the door.

  • Corky watches through the door peephole as three men pass by.

    Fiction book (1996)
  • There was one tiny little peephole for art.

  • So he goes up to the peephole.

  • Hold your badge up to the peephole.

  • Finally, the buzz came, and he walked over, looked through the peephole, and pulled open the door.

    Fiction book (1999)
  • I spied on him through the peephole.

  • When there was a knock on her door, Laurie checked through the peephole by reflex.

    Fiction book (1999)
  • Through the fish-eyed peephole, Mrs. Hollingsworth watched him address the Lawn-Boy.

    Fiction book (1993)
  • Before opening the door, he peered through the peephole to see who was outside.

Synonyms

viewport
vspeephole
2 6.0

A small window in a door or vehicle that lets you look through

is a smaller hole stressing secret unseen observation rather than open viewing
eyehole
vspeephole
1 5.3

A small hole in a door or mask to look through

is mainly a door or wall opening used especially to look without being seen
spyhole
vspeephole
  • UK
1 7.5

A small hole in a door or wall that lets you look through secretly

is the general small opening used to look through, often secretly

How Wide

window
1.0
opening
179 1.0
peephole
19 2.9
keyhole
27 1.0

Surface Forms

peephole singular
peepholes plural

Morphology

peephole = peep + hole (transparent) = peep + hole

The word is a straightforward compound of 'peep' (a quick look) and 'hole' (an opening), which directly yields the meaning.

Etymology

Peephole comes from the simple parts peep meaning 'to look quickly or secretly' and hole meaning 'a small opening'. So a peephole is a small opening you can peep through to see what is on the other side without being seen.