Peep-Hole
/ˈpiːpˌhoʊl/noun
A small opening used for looking through.
Did you know?The first element, peep, is an expressive word of uncertain origin that has long carried the idea of quick, furtive looking, which is why the word feels almost onomatopoeic and a little suspicious.
Etymological Timeline
Old English
OE
pīpan
“to chirp or peep (an imitative sound-word, not the modern noun)”
Middle English
ME
pepen / peepen
“to utter a small sound; later also to look furtively or briefly”
Old English
OE
hol
“a hollow place, cavity, or opening”
16th Century
English
peep-hole
“a small opening for peeping through”
Modern English
English
peephole
“a small opening in a door or wall for looking through”