Definition of "rat-hole" [rat-hole]

• A hole gnawed in woodwork, etc., by a rat or rats. (noun)
• In printing, same as pigeonhole, 6. (noun)

The Century Dictionary (Public Domain)

• "Recent Comments dmark: Hey kids, At the risk of sending the thread down a rat-hole, but not finding a better place to post this: ..."
• "Everyone in my town would tell you that I grew up in a rat-hole firetrap and that my chosen profession was all about bringing color and clarity and order into a life of chaos."
• "Then you sit on your butt in a scummy hobo infested rat-hole."