Meaning of murder-hole | Babel Free

Definitions

A deep pit used for drowning malefactors as a punishment.

Examples

“Immediately inside the doorway is a small lobby which is defended by a cross loop which would have⟳ been manned from inside the main chamber and defended by a murder-hole over.”

“The murder-hole above the outer end⟳ of the passage survives, but only the descending grooves mark⟳ the position of the outer portcullis within it, beneath the recess to receive⟳ it in the outer E. wall”

“This corridor is entered from the Castle by a tunnel cut⟳ through the rampart, its exit through the wall being guarded by a murder-hole above, and made more secure by a double⟳ right-angle bend⟳ and a narrow doorway.”

“Marcus caught up another large rock, but before hurling it he paused, squinting eagerly down his murder-hole.”

“The pits were of the kind which have⟳ become⟳ known as murder-holes, for the reason⟳ already explained that they were used by the barons, who had power of pit and gallows, to punish⟳ malefactors summarily.”

“Some of the murder-holes or pits, are said to be eighty feet deep, from which human bones have⟳ been brought forth, and their origin has been referred to the feudal grants, which were conferred on so many barons, of having and using " pit and gallows."”

“Drowning is a very old mode of punishment in Scotland; and in Galloway there were pits of great depth appropriated to that punishment, still called murder-holes, out of which human bones have⟳ occasionally been taken in great quantities.”

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