Meaning of murder hole | Babel Free

Definitions

1. A slit or hole above the entrance to a fortification, thought to provide access for defenders to kill invaders.
   historical
2. A waterhole or pit in a bog where the bodies of murder victims were thrown.
3. A chamber above the entrance to a fortification where defenders hide and shoot at invaders trapped in the entryway below.
   historical, rare

Examples

“The ground floor entrance, a gothic doorway, is in the east wall and gives access to a small vestibule with a murder hole. The stairs on the left leads up to a short landing, over which is a second smaller murder hole.”

“While tradition and speculation has it that murder holes were commonly used to throw stones and other heavy missiles onto the heads of unsuspecting besiegers, they quite likely originated as devices that allowed defenders to quench the flames of an enemy's fire burning the timber defenses situated within the passage.”

“She said the nearest she could recall was when one of King Stephen's sentries got drunk on shipwreck brandy and fell through the murder hole, breaking his leg.”

“On the first floor, over the gate passage and tower rooms, was a massive hall, well-appointed despite its having to accommodate the inner portcullis and murder hole, the slots for which may still be seen in the floor.”

“Within it a passage with what is described by Westropp as a 'murder hole' on the roof just inside the doorway. This 'murder hole' extends the width of the passage and is covered over by well fitting stone slabs.”

“The archers on the ramparts, naturally, saw them plain, as did the towermaster in the 'murder hole' above the gate.”

“The Murder Hole is the thing for me—that tells no tales—a single scuffle—a single plunge—and the fellow is dead and buried to your hand in a moment.”

“The name appears to refer to, and in fact to be an alternative one for, the Murder Hole of Carrick (q.vj which lies 200 or 300 yards west of the croft biggin.”

“The Murder Hole was supposedly near the property Moira and Paul rented, but they hardly knew a soul who had seen it, except for one: the old man who patched their roof.”

“The other brother replied, 'The Murder Hole for me. It makes for a cleaner job — you just slit their throats and drop them in. It's all by in a flash.'”

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