manhole

[ man-hohl ]

noun

1. a hole, usually with a cover, through which a person may enter a sewer, drain, steam boiler, etc., especially one located in a city street.

manhole

/ ˈmænˌhəʊl /

noun

1. Also calledinspection chamber a shaft with a removable cover that leads down to a sewer or drain
2. a hole, usually with a detachable cover, through which a man can enter a boiler, tank, etc

Word History and Origins

Origin of manhole¹

First recorded in 1785–95; man + hole

Example Sentences

He had been pulled into the drainage system and emerged out of a manhole.

From ProPublica

Attaching the nodes to manhole covers meant maintenance crews could access them easily.

From MIT Technology Review

Until the sensor network was put in place, a pair of city workers in South Bend used to drive around once a week, lift up manhole covers, and peer down, using nothing but their eyes to estimate how fast the sewage was flowing.

From MIT Technology Review

Hot crude and oily waste bubbled up from underground, filled an apartment building basement, oozed out of manhole covers and buckled sidewalks.

From ProPublica

The man climbs out of a manhole, as if sneaking into her dream.

From Time

One of the primary reasons the FMCSA gave for the shutdown was the manhole cover incident.

From The Daily Beast

From the modern chastity belt to a bag that disguises as a manhole, Soraya Roberts on the growing trend of protective fashion.

From The Daily Beast

She also designed an emergency "manhole bag," a flat purse that could be thrown on the ground to double as a sewer.

From The Daily Beast

The only escape available to him appears in the form of a manhole, through which he escapes underground.

From The Daily Beast

I didn't see the open manhole that the workmen had figured would be all right at that time of night.

From Project Gutenberg

But the platform at the manhole entrance jutted diagonally below him, fifteen feet down and twelve along the bellying curve.

From Project Gutenberg

Then he began to cry, resting his head on his arms, that were crossed in front of the manhole of the kayak.

From Project Gutenberg

By the way, did you happen to notice whuther the slat top to that cistern o' hers was over the manhole?

From Project Gutenberg

A word of command—farewell to the bright blue sky overhead—the black manhole cover is replaced.

From Project Gutenberg