English

hand-hole

From hand + hole.

A compound of hand + hole

Proto-Germanic *handuz

Proto-West Germanic *handu

Old English hand

Middle English hond

English hand

Proto-Germanic *hulaz ‘hollow’

Proto-Germanic *hulą ‘hollow space’

Proto-West Germanic *hol ‘hollow space, cavity’

Old English hol ‘hole, hollow place’

Middle English hole

English hole

Today it means

noun A small hole in a steam boiler for the insertion of the hand in cleaning, etc.

Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.

Etymograph / hand-hole