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Glite Dictionary
spyhole

spyhole

1 7.5
A small hole in a door or wall that lets you look through secretly
  • noun
  • /ˈspaɪhoʊl/
  • UK
translation icon : mirilla
  • She looked through the spyhole to see who was at the door before opening it.

Examples

  • The cliff house resident shuts the spyhole almost immediately.

    Academic text (1999)

  • At the last moment, he checks himself and looks through the spyhole.

    Fiction book (1994)

  • If players knock repeatedly at the door of one of the cliff houses, a spyhole opens to reveal an enigmatic face.

    Academic text (1999)

  • The chorusmaster climbs her ladder and peers through her spyhole, score in one hand, the other hand suspended in the air.

    Fiction book (1996)

  • David closes the door and looks through a new spyhole to see Alex grinning at him while he releases the chains and then opens the door again.

    Fiction book (1994)

  • The spyhole allowed him to observe the intruder without being seen.

  • Before entering the room, Maria checked the spyhole to ensure it was safe.

Synonyms

peephole
vsspyhole
19 2.9

A small hole in a door to look through without being seen

stresses secret viewing from only one side
loophole
vsspyhole
4 7.1

A narrow opening in a fort wall for looking or firing weapons

is for private secret viewing, not military observation or firing
eyehole
vsspyhole
1 5.3

A small hole in a door or mask to look through

is mainly for doors and walls rather than masks or objects
judas
vsspyhole
  • Archaic
9.8

A small hole in a door with a lens to see who is outside before you open it

is a plain secret viewing opening rather than security equipment
creep hole
vsspyhole
8.9

A small opening you look through to watch without being seen

focuses on secret looking without implying a passage or entry

How Hidden

spyhole
  • UK
1 7.5
peephole
19 2.9
keyhole
27 1.0
window
∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

spyhole singular
spyholes plural

Morphology

spyhole = spy + hole (transparent) = spy + hole

A straightforward compound whose meaning is directly derived from 'spy' + 'hole' (a hole used for spying).

Etymology

The word spyhole is simply spy + hole, meaning a small hole to 'watch' from the other side without being seen. That's why a spyhole is a little hole in a door, wall, or oven that lets you look secretly to check what is happening.