knothole

noun

Etymology: From knot + hole.

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.”

   “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.”

2. 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.”

   “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.”