knothole

Noun

knothole (plural knotholes)

1. In a piece of lumber, a void left by a knot in the wood; such holes are often convenient for peering through when they occur in fences.
   • Looking in the same direction, I saw that the knothole in the wall had indeed become a human eye -- a full, black eye, that glared into my own with an entire lack of expression more awful than the most devilish glitter.1893, Ambrose Bierce, Can Such Things Be, archived from the original on 11 Aug 2014
   • These city-owned parks, regal concrete crowns with acres of parking lots and nary a knothole to peek through, are a definite swing away from the democratic character of the earlier ballparks.1987, Richard Miller, Gregory L. Rhodes, “The Life and Times of the Old Cincinnati Ballparks”, in Queen City Heritage, volume 45, number 2, Cincinnati Historical Society, pages 25–41
2. (Cincinnati, attributive) Youth league baseball.
   • But he was worried that a coach of a knothole team might not like the idea and not let me switch-hit. So, my dad went to the coach.1976, Pete Rose with Bob Hertzel, quoting Pete Rose, Pete Rose's winning baseball, H. Regnery Co., page 10
   • I was a Cub Scout. I went to church with my family, and taught Sunday school when I was in my teens. I played knothole baseball and rooted for the Reds.1993 March, Michael Graham, quoting Rob Portman, “Mr. Portman Goes to Washington”, in Cincinnati, page 32