loophole
UK[ˈluːp.həʊl]US[ˈluːp.hoʊl]
n
a small mistake in a law, rule, or contract that allows someone to avoid doing something that it is intended they should do.
n
a narrow vertical opening in the wall of a castle or fortress for shooting arrows or letting in light.
Morpheme Breakdown
loop
hole
loop
opening
hole
gap
Etymology
the word 'loophole' has a concrete military origin, first appearing in the late 16th century. it combined the middle english term 'loop', meaning a narrow vertical slit in a castle wall for observation or archery, with the old english word 'hole', denoting an aperture. this literal sense of a small, defensive opening evolved metaphorically by the 17th century. the modern abstract meaning—an ambiguity or omission in a system that permits escape from its intended effect—logically extends from the idea of finding a small, unintended gap through which one can slip.
Analysis
Structure: loop (opening) + hole (gap)
- loop: from middle english 'loupe', of uncertain origin, possibly from a germanic root. in this context, it refers to a narrow opening or window.
- hole: from old english 'hol' (a hollow place, cave), from proto-germanic 'hulą'. functions as the core noun, specifying a gap or opening.
Examples
the company exploited a legal loophole to avoid paying taxes.
archers fired arrows through the narrow loopholes in the fortress wall.
they closed a loophole in the security regulations that allowed unauthorized access.