noun
Uncommon
holt
holt
Holt (noun) means a small wood or wooded hill. Example: “A footpath led through the holt to the river.”
noun
1
A small wood or wooded hill.
"A footpath led through the holt to the river."
"Bluebells covered the ground beneath the trees of the old holt."
"We picnicked on the edge of a quiet holt above the village."
2
The den or lair of an otter.
"Conservationists found signs of an otter holt along the riverbank."
"The otter slipped into its holt beneath the roots of the willow."
"Volunteers checked the holt each morning for fresh tracks."
How to use holt
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither a small patch of woodland, or specifically an otter's den.
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Word forms
- Plural
- holts
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
A footpath led through the _____ to the river.
Etymology
From Old English holt, "wood, forest," an old Germanic word for timber or woodland — the same root survives in German Holz ("wood").
Synonyms
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Rhymes for holt
See all rhymes for holt →Frequently asked questions
What does “holt” mean?
The word “holt” means a small wood or wooded hill. In plain terms, either a small patch of woodland, or specifically an otter's den.
How do you pronounce “holt”?
“Holt” is pronounced holt (/hoʊlt/ in IPA).
How do you use “holt” in a sentence?
Here is “holt” used in a sentence: “A footpath led through the holt to the river.”
What part of speech is “holt”?
“Holt” is a noun.
Where does the word “holt” come from?
The word “holt” comes from Old English. From Old English holt, "wood, forest," an old Germanic word for timber or woodland — the same root survives in German Holz ("wood").
Is “holt” a common word?
“Holt” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “holt” have?
“Holt” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a small wood or wooded hill.
What is the difference between the two meanings of holt?
Holt can refer either to a small wood or wooded hill, an older, largely literary or dialect usage, or to the den or lair of an otter, a more specialized wildlife term still used today. Context determines which sense applies, since the two meanings are unrelated in subject matter.
Is holt a common word in modern English?
The woodland sense of holt is now mostly literary, archaic, or found in place names, rather than everyday speech. The otter's den sense remains in active use, particularly in nature writing and conservation contexts.
