boltholes
Hidden emergency exits
Boltholes is the plural of bolthole—a place of escape or refuge, somewhere you can retreat when things get difficult.
The term originally referred to a hole through which an animal could bolt to safety.
Now it usually describes a secondary residence or hideaway: They kept a cottage in Cornwall as a bolthole from London life.
The word is more common in British than American English.
Secluded place of refuge
- sanctuaryProtected sacred space
- retreatSanctuary or withdrawal
- safe houseSecret secure refuge
- hiding placeConcealed refuge location
escape · haven · shelter · lair · den · hideout · bunker · foxhole
Grand rural residence
- cottageSmall rural home
- cabinSimple wooden dwelling
- retreatSanctuary or withdrawal
- getawaySwift departure or retreat
pied-à-terre · second home · rural · escape · sanctuary · hideaway · investment · privacy
Animal's dug dwelling
- warrenInterconnected underground tunnels
- denPrivate room or lair
- lairAnimal's hidden dwelling
- tunnelEnclosed underground route
earth · sett · underground · nest · excavation · shelter · refuge · wildlife
Planned exit path
- exitWay to leave
- contingencyUncertain possible event
- backup planAlternative if primary fails
- fallbackAlternative if primary fails
emergency · evacuation · exit strategy · safe passage · getaway · alternative · insurance · precaution
hideaway
Secluded place of refuge
- sanctuaryProtected sacred space
- retreatSanctuary or withdrawal
- safe houseSecret secure refuge
hiding place · escape · haven · shelter · lair · den · hideout · bunker · foxhole · secret place
country house
Grand rural residence
getaway · pied-à-terre · second home · rural · escape · sanctuary · hideaway · investment · privacy · secluded
burrow
Animal's dug dwelling
tunnel · earth · sett · underground · nest · excavation · shelter · refuge · wildlife · rodent
escape route
Planned exit path
- exitWay to leave
- contingencyUncertain possible event
- backup planAlternative if primary fails
fallback · emergency · evacuation · exit strategy · safe passage · getaway · alternative · insurance · precaution · preparation
boltholeskilling fields
Sites of mass execution
danger zones · firing lines · front lines · war zones · combat zones
boltholesopen spaces
Unoccupied expanses or gaps
wide open spaces · main streets · town squares · open plains · open fields
boltholesbattlegrounds
Places where wars occur
combat zones · arenas · last stands · points of no return · dead ends