LOOPHOLE • DICTIONARY ONE.COM • Definition of Loophole

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/lˈuphˌoʊl/ Listen

noun

Loophole n.

(Mil.) A small opening, as in the walls of fortification, or in the bulkhead of a ship, through which small arms or other weapons may be discharged at an enemy.

A hole or aperture that gives a passage, or the means of escape or evasion.

An amibiguity or unintended omission in a law, rule, regulation, or contract which allows a party to circumvent the intent of the text and avoid its obligations under certain circumstances. used usually in a negative sense; distinguished from escape clause in that the latter usually is included to deliberately allow evasion of obligation under certain specified and foreseen circumstances; as, a loophole in the law big enough to drive a truck through.

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Etymology of 'Loophole'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

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"Loophole" Quotes from Famous Books

... dawn, serenely and calmly. His sleep had been deep; he awoke full of unknown joy; a cheerful ray of sunlight, falling through the loophole, wavered over the fine golden straw in his cell; an autumn breeze playing around him, brought an agreeable coolness to his brow, and stirred in his long hair. The gaoler, who while he had had him in his charge had always behaved humanely, struck by his happy looks, hesitated to announce the priest's ...

— Celebrated Crimes, Complete • Alexandre Dumas, Pere

... in, and she knew it. Nothing but a miracle could save her now. The only loophole she had for herself was one which she realized already was highly unlikely to serve her. She had been practically forced into submission, and she did not attempt to disguise the ...

— The Top of the World • Ethel M. Dell

... that jealous curtain, those beautiful eyes are glancing through some aperture—window or loophole, I doubt not;" and with this reflection I once more turned my face ...

— The War Trail - The Hunt of the Wild Horse • Mayne Reid

... keeps her kindness under lock and key, like her sweetmeats. Miss Faith, shall I give you a loophole view of those boys—before ...

— Say and Seal, Volume I • Susan Warner

... gate of the palisade I looked and saw the sandy neck joining the town to the mainland, and the deep and dark woods beyond, the fairy mantle giving invisibility to the foe. I drew back from my loophole and held out my hand to a woman for a loaded musket. A quick murmur like the drawing of a breath came from our line. The governor, standing near me, cast an anxious glance along the stretch of wooden stakes that were neither so high nor so ...

— The Literary World Seventh Reader • Various

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