noun · verb · 6 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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Received-Pronunciation:/ˈluːphəʊl/
Southern-England:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
General-American:/ˈluphoʊl/
rhymes with -uːphəʊl
CMU ARPABET:L UW1 P HH OW2 L
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
noun
Meaning 1
A slit in a castle wall; today, any similar window for shooting a ranged weapon or letting in light.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: historical
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
A method of escape, especially an ambiguity or exception in a rule or law that can be exploited in order to avoid its effect.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: figuratively
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
verb
Meaning 3
To prepare a building for defense by preparing slits or holes through which to fire on attackers
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
Topics: government, military, politics, war
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
verb
Meaning 4
To exploit (a law, etc.) by means of loopholes.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
5
noun
Meaning 5
a small hole in a fortified wall; for observation or discharging weapons
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: hole
6
noun
Meaning 6
an ambiguity (especially one in the text of a law or contract) that makes it possible to evade a difficulty or obligation
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: ambiguity
History
Etymology
From Middle English loupe (“opening in a wall”) + hole, from a Germanic source. By surface analysis, loop + hole. Compare Medieval Latin loupa, lobia and Middle Dutch lupen (“to watch”).
Across languages
Translations
77 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Bulgarian:
амбразура
(ambrazura)
— slit in a castle wall
Catalan:
espitllera
— slit in a castle wall
Chinese Mandarin:
槍眼 /枪眼
(qiāngyǎn)
— slit in a castle wall
Dutch:
schietgat
— slit in a castle wall
Finnish:
ampumarako
— slit in a castle wall
French:
meurtrière
— slit in a castle wall
Galician:
seteira
— slit in a castle wall
Galician:
troneira
— slit in a castle wall
Georgian:
ამბრაზურა
(ambrazura)
— slit in a castle wall
German:
Schießscharte
— slit in a castle wall
Greek:
πολεμίστρα
(polemístra)
— slit in a castle wall
Hungarian:
(crenel) lőrés
— slit in a castle wall
Hungarian:
(peephole) kémlelőnyílás
— slit in a castle wall
Irish:
poll lámhaigh
— slit in a castle wall
Italian:
feritoia
— slit in a castle wall
Japanese:
銃眼
(jūgan)
— slit in a castle wall
Māori:
whakarua kōtare
— slit in a castle wall
Norwegian:
skyteskår
— slit in a castle wall
Polish:
otwór strzelniczy
— slit in a castle wall
Portuguese:
seteira
— slit in a castle wall
Russian:
амбразу́ра
(ambrazúra)
— slit in a castle wall
Russian:
бойни́ца
(bojníca)
— slit in a castle wall
Spanish:
aspillera
— slit in a castle wall
Spanish:
ballestera
— slit in a castle wall
Spanish:
saetera
— slit in a castle wall
Spanish:
saetía
— slit in a castle wall
Spanish:
barbacana
— slit in a castle wall
Spanish:
tronera
— slit in a castle wall
Spanish:
portañola
— slit in a castle wall
Spanish:
cañonera
— slit in a castle wall
Swedish:
skottglugg
— slit in a castle wall
Turkish:
mazgal
— slit in a castle wall
Bulgarian:
вратичка
(vratička)
— method of escape
Catalan:
escapador
— method of escape
Chinese Mandarin:
漏洞
(lòudòng)
— method of escape
Czech:
mezera
— method of escape
Dutch:
achterdeur
— method of escape
Dutch:
maas
— method of escape
Finnish:
porsaanreikä
— method of escape
French:
échappatoire
— method of escape
French:
brèche
— method of escape
Georgian:
თავის დაძვრენა
(tavis daʒvrena)
— method of escape
