† spike-hole Obs.
[perh. f. spike n.2, but the simple word in this sense (spike n.3) occurs earlier than the compound.]
A loop-hole or small opening in a wall.
| 1598 Florio, Balestriera, a spike hole or loope hole, to shoote out at. 1629 J. M. tr. Fonseca's Dev. Contempl. 90 Of all those Kingdomes..he hath not so much as one poore spike-hole in a wall. 1642 in Lismore Papers Ser. ii. (1888) V. 47 [They] played theire spicke holes and the tope of the Castle with small shott. 1690 Lond. Gaz. No. 2560/2 These..beat the Enemy out of a Ravelin..and fired upon them through their own Spikeholes. 1742 Jarvis Quix. Pref. (1749) p. xviii, The dungeon is one of those strong stone towers..with small spike-holes high in the walls. |