rathole

rat·hole

R r

Transcription

- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
- UK Pronunciation
- UK IPA
- [rat-hohl]
- /ˈrætˌhoʊl/
- /rˈathəʊl/

- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
- [rat-hohl]
- /ˈrætˌhoʊl/

Definitions of rathole word

noun rathole a hole made by a rat, as into a room, barn, etc.: The first chore in the old building is to plug up the ratholes. 1
noun rathole the burrow or shelter of a rat. 1
noun rathole any small and uncomfortable room, office, apartment, etc., especially one that is dirty or disordered: He lives in a rathole near the docks. 1
idioms rathole down the rathole, for a worthless purpose or purposes: seeing your inheritance disappear down the rathole. 1
noun rathole opening to a rat's lair 1
noun rathole small dirty room 1

See all 11 definitions of rathole

Information block about the term

Origin of rathole

First appearance:

before 1805

One of the 41% newest English words

First recorded in 1805-15; rat + hole

Historical Comparancy

Parts of speech for Rathole

noun

adjective

verb

adverb

pronoun

preposition

conjunction

determiner

exclamation

Full grammatical hierarchy of Rathole

rathole popularity

A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 70% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.

According to our data about 71% of words is more used. This is a rare but used term. It occurs in the pages of specialized literature and in the speech of educated people.

rathole usage trend in Literature

This diagram is provided by Google Ngram Viewer

Synonyms for rathole

noun rathole

bungalow — A bungalow is a house which has only one level, and no stairs.
cabana — a tent used as a dressing room by the sea
hovel — a small, very humble dwelling house; a wretched hut.
hut — a small or humble dwelling of simple construction, especially one made of natural materials, as of logs or grass.
leanto — a shack or shed supported at one side by trees or posts and having an inclined roof.

All 5 Synonyms of rathole