murder hole

plural murder holes · alternative murder-hole

1. historicalA slit or hole above the entrance to a fortification, thought to provide access for defenders to kill invaders.

   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.

   2013, Michelle Cooper, A Brief History of Montmaray, →ISBN, page 23

   2 more 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.

   1997, John Kirwan, Kilkenny: studies in honour of Margaret M. Phelan, page 41

   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.

   2006, Lise Hull, Britain's Medieval Castles, →ISBN, page 58

2. historicalrareA chamber above the entrance to a fortification where defenders hide and shoot at invaders trapped in the entryway below.

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

   2006, Michael Flynn, Eifelheim, →ISBN, page 268

   2 more examples

   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.

   1992, Sian E. Rees, A Guide to Ancient and Historic Wales: Dyfed, →ISBN, page 160

   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.

   1998, The parish of Kilkeedy: a local history, →ISBN, page 75

1. A waterhole or pit in a bog where the bodies of murder victims were thrown.

   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.'

   2009, Dane Love, Legendary Ayrshire: custom, folklore, tradition, page 208

   3 more examples

   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.

   1989, Islay Murray Donaldson, The Life and Work of Samuel Rutherford Crockett, page 122

   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.

   1947, John Kevan McDowall, Carrick Gallovidian

   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.

   2003, Cathryn Hankla, The Land Between, page 1