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loophole

Posted: Tue May 27, 2008 11:56 pm
by Bailey
loop·hole (lphl)
n.
1. A way of escaping a difficulty, especially an omission or ambiguity in the wording of a contract or law that provides a means of evading compliance.
2. A small hole or slit in a wall, especially one through which small arms may be fired.



[loop2 + hole.]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition copyright ©2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2003. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.


loophole
Noun
an ambiguity or omission in the law, which enables one to evade it
Collins Essential English Dictionary 2nd Edition 2006 © HarperCollins Publishers 2004, 2006
Interestingly enough I believe that the original loophole is the number 3 meaning. A loophole began as a place where danger originates, now is a place to escape 'danger'.

mark looped Bailey

Posted: Mon Jan 17, 2011 8:10 pm
by Slava
It is amazing how many times you can look at something and not really see it.

What is the #3 definition mentioned above? Does anyone have any idea?

Posted: Mon Jan 24, 2011 10:27 am
by Audiendus
I would guess that "3" is a typo for "2". The comment seems to apply to definition #2.