What is "hole and corner"

Hole \Hole\ (h[=o]l), n. [OE. hol, hole, AS. hol, hole, cavern, from hol, a., hollow; akin to D. hol, OHG. hol, G. hohl, Dan. huul hollow, hul hole, Sw. h[*a]l, Icel. hola; prob. from the root of AS. helan to conceal. See Hele, Hell, and cf. Hold of a ship.]

1. A hollow place or cavity; an excavation; a pit; an opening in or through a solid body, a fabric, etc.; a perforation; a rent; a fissure.

   The holes where eyes should be.
   --Shak.

   The blind walls Were full of chinks and holes.
   --Tennyson.

   The priest took a chest, and bored a hole in the lid.
   --2 Kings xii. 9.

2. An excavation in the ground, made by an animal to live in, or a natural cavity inhabited by an animal; hence, a low, narrow, or dark lodging or place; a mean habitation.
   --Dryden.

   The foxes have holes, . . . but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.
   --Luke ix. 58.

3. (Games)

   1. A small cavity used in some games, usually one into which a marble or ball is to be played or driven; hence, a score made by playing a marble or ball into such a hole, as in golf.

   2. (Fives) At Eton College, England, that part of the floor of the court between the step and the pepperbox.

      Syn: Hollow; concavity; aperture; rent; fissure; crevice; orifice; interstice; perforation; excavation; pit; cave; den; cell.

      Hole and corner, clandestine, underhand. [Colloq.] ``The wretched trickery of hole and corner buffery.''
      --Dickens.

      Hole board (Fancy Weaving), a board having holes through which cords pass which lift certain warp threads; -- called also compass board.