peepholen.
/ˈpiːphəʊl/, U.S. /ˈpipˌ(h)oʊl/ A small hole through which a person can look or peep; (now) esp. an eyehole in a door containing a magnifying lens, through which callers may be identified prior to admittance. Also in extended use.In quot. a1570 apparently: the name of a prison.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > sight and vision > thing seen > place where view obtained > [noun] > hole or window
oillet1333
tooting-holea1382
tote-hole1561
peepholea1570
eyehole1655
eyelet1762
eyelet hole1774
eye-loop1803
Judas hole1858
peek-hole1867
oillet pane1873
squint1891
observation window1897
viewport1942
port1949
the world > space > relative position > condition of being open or not closed > an opening or aperture > [noun] > for looking through
oillet1333
loop1393
sight-hole1559
tote-hole1561
peepholea1570
loophole1591
eyehole1655
grille1686
slit17..
eyelet1762
eyelet hole1774
spying-hole1791
eye-loop1803
squint1839
hagioscope1840
Judas hole1858
peek-hole1867
oillet pane1873
spy-hole1888
squint1891
viewport1942
society > inhabiting and dwelling > inhabited place > a building > parts of building > window or door > types of window > [noun] > small window > peep-hole
peepholea1570
Judas1837
a1570 J. Davis in E. Flügel Neueng. Lesebuch (1895) I. 325 By meanes wherof he was put in an inner prison caled the peep-hole.
1676–7 J. Finch Let. 1/11 Mar. in Conway Lett. (1992) vii. 428 Your Lordship should now by breaking your long Silence lett me understand (as wretch'd people in a Darke Dungeon by the least Peephole that introduces light) the comfort I am depriv'd of.
1678 T. Porter French Conjurer v. 34 My Parlour-window has been sweetly visited between you; but I'll stop your peep-hole.
1681 T. Otway Souldiers Fortune i. i. 7 And then for a peep-hole, odds fish I have a peep hole for thee.
1716 Lady M. W. Montagu Let. 14 Sept. (1965) I. 264 The comedy..begun with Jupiter's falling in Love out of a peep hole in the clouds.
1742 Gentleman's Mag. June 311/2 A large Screen of gilt Leather pierc'd in many Places, and many were endeavouring to repair the peep-holes.
1811 H. L. Stanhope Let. 17 Feb. in I. Bruce Nun of Lebanon (1951) II. vii. 88 A Turkish Lady having sent to me to say she intended to pay me a visit, it was necessary to send all the men out of the house. Bruce & Ld. Sligo..wickedly contrived to make peep holes in the ceiling.
1857 J. H. Newman in J. Jennings Life (1888) 119 We see each other as through the peep-holes of a show.
1890 F. W. Robinson Very Strange Family 3 Mr. Barnett had..put up the shutters, and had glass peep-holes made in every one of them.
1925 E. A. Powell Beyond Utmost Purple Rim xv. 379 The great number of folk-tales, songs, and legends..form peep-holes, as it were, through which may be obtained fleeting glimpses of their mystery-enveloped past.
1952 E. F. Davies Illyrian Venture xi. 209 Every sentry looked in frequently through the peep-hole in the door.
1990 T. Strong Sons of Heaven (BNC) 112 She peered through the security peephole in the solid Edwardian oak door.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2005; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.a1570