Emily Dickinson Lexicon

HOLE, n. [Sax. hol; G. höhle; D. hol; Dan. hul, hule; Sw. hål; Basque, chiloa; Gr. κοιλας, κοιλος. Qu. Heb. חל or Ar. خَلاَ gala. Class Gl, No. 20, 23.]

1. A hollow place or cavity in any solid body, of any shape or dimensions, natural or artificial. It may differ from a rent or fissure in being wider. A cell; a den; a cave or cavern in the earth; an excavation in a rock or tree; a pit, &c. Is. xi. Ezek. viii. Nah. ii. Matth. viii.
2. A perforation; an aperture; an opening in or through a solid body, left in the work or made by an instrument. Jehoida took a chest, and bored a hole in the lid of it. 2 Kings xii.
3. A mean habitation; a narrow or dark lodging. Dryden.
4. An opening or meane of escape; a subterfuge; in the vulgar phrase, he has a hole to creep out at. Arm-hole, the arm-pit; the cavity under the shoulder of a person. Bacon. #2. An opening in a garment for the arm.