Peekhole

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈpiːkhəʊl/

Definitions

1. A small aperture in a surface allows for discreet observation or viewing without revealing one's presence
2. This is an opening designed for limited visual access while maintaining privacy or concealment
3. A tiny opening fixed in a door or wall that lets someone look through without being seen

Etymology: "Peekhole" is a plain compound: "peek," meaning a quick or furtive look, joined to "hole," an opening. The combination describes exactly what it names, a small aperture that lets someone glance through a door or wall without being noticed. Nothing about the word hides a surprise. Its parts are ordinary English words, and the sense of each has stayed close to its original meaning. The verb "peek" is the older and less common of the two forms in English, and it carries the same idea of a brief, partial look. Because the compound is so transparent, the word is easy to understand even for speakers who have never encountered it in writing before. The spyhole in a front door, the slot a guard uses in a cell door, and the hatch in a restaurant kitchen all share the same basic purpose, which is why the term reaches across such different settings.

Synonyms: peephole, viewing hole