DCHP-1 Online

air-hole

• 1 n. a hole in the ice, especially where the water is moving too swiftly to freeze.

  • 1794  (1911)  One of the horses drawing hay across the bay fell into an airhole and was drowned.
  • 1958  (1960)  He stepped into an air hole, a common hazard ... where the stream, flowing too swiftly to freeze, is covered only by a dome of snow

• 2 n. an opening in the ice, made as a breathing-hole by some animal.

  See also: aglu  breathing-hole  water-hole (def. 2)  

  • 1852  (1881)  [It] was an air-hole through which the beaver had come up during the night. . . .
  • 1964  Each seal has several air holes

• 3 n. an opening in rotten ice.

  See also: rotten  

  • 1878  The ice that had formed on Battle River rotted and became so full of air holes that it was dangerous to cross it.
  • 1916  (n.d.)  "Rubber ice," said Billy. "Air-holes," said the Doctor.