When the term loophole was first used in the late sixteenth century, it originally referred to the narrow slits in castle walls used for archers to shoot through while remaining protected. Over time, it became associated with a “means of escape,” leading to a new definition in the 1660s. As the word gained popularity (reaching its peak in 1985), it began to be used in various figurative contexts, shaping its modern usage. Interestingly, the “loop” in loophole does not refer to the curved shape we are familiar with today. Instead, it stems from the Middle English word loupe, meaning “opening in a wall,” believed to have roots in a Germanic term signifying “peek” or “watch.” The term hole is simply derived from Old English hol and Proto-Germanic hula, ultimately tracing back to the Proto-Indo-European word kel, which means “cover.”
