DCHP-1 Online
water-hole 
1 n. a hole cut in ice, especially one cut in a river or lake as a source of fresh water.
- 1749 This thickness of Ice, was caused by the over-flowing of the Tides, which came up through the Cracks of the Ice, or by the Water Holes which were cut in the Ice, for freshening the Meat.
- 1852 In the winter, Albert built a snow wall very neatly round the water-hole by which the fort was supplied, to keep off the snow-drifts, cut steps through the ice down to the water, and then fitted to the aperture a light snow-lid, that could be easily removed.
- 1883 On Saturday evening an ox got into a water hole that had been cut to an enormous and dangerous size, with an utter disregard to life and property.
- 1955 One morning we opened the water holes and fed the cattle early, then struck south through the bush.
2 n. an opening in the ice, made as a breathing-hole, q.v., by some animal.
See also: air-hole (def. 2) breathing-hole
- 1897 The new ice being thin, the walruses break up through it at any place, and sport about in the water-holes which they make.
- 1921 In order to keep the water-hole from freezing, [muskrats] build a little house of reeds and mud over it.
- 1749 This thickness of Ice, was caused by the over-flowing of the Tides, which came up through the Cracks of the Ice, or by the Water Holes which were cut in the Ice, for freshening the Meat.