Noseholes

In Southern and Appalachian speech, noseholes means the nostrils - a plain, literal, good-humored name for the openings of the nose used in everyday talk.

#SouthernWords #Appalachia #Southern #BodyandHealth

synonyms: nostrils

Hillbilly Dude Says...

If you're in the country, you'll mainly hear them called 'noseholes.' It's a common one.

Hillbilly Dude Says...

If you're in the country, you'll mainly hear them called 'noseholes.' It's a common one.

Pronunciation

[NOHZ-hohlz]
/ˈnoʊzˌhoʊlz/

Meaning & Usage

- Nostrils; the openings of the nose (noun)

Ruby:

Hold still - you got somethin’ on your noseholes.

Earl:

Well quit starin’ at ’em then!

variations: nose holes, nosehole

★ If somebody says a smell "bout blowed their noseholes out," they mean it hit them hard enough to near take their breath. ★

Origin and Etymology

The term follows a longstanding Appalachian and Southern tendency toward literal compound body-part names. While "nostril" is the standard English form, "noseholes" persists regionally because of its simplicity, humor, and resemblance to other transparent compounds such as "eyeteeth" and "toe-knuckles."

Usage Notes

"Noseholes" is common across much of the rural South and Appalachia and is used by both children and adults in informal situations. It is typically plural, since speakers nearly always refer to both openings together. The singular "nosehole" appears rarely and usually for humorous effect.

Plural form - most speakers say "noseholes," not "nosehole."
Plain-talk term - favored in casual, family, and rural settings.
Literal naming pattern - aligns with regional compounds like "eyeteeth."
Not used in formal speech - generally replaced by "nostrils" outside the South.

Kin Topics

Common Questions

Do Southerners really say "noseholes" instead of "nostrils"?

Yes - it’s a natural, long-standing regional term.

Is it meant to be childish?

Not necessarily. It’s informal, but adults use it regularly in everyday talk.

Which form is correct: "noseholes" or "nose holes"?

"Noseholes" is the most common regional spelling, but "nose holes" also appears.

Do people outside the South use this term?

Rarely. It’s strongly tied to Southern and Appalachian vernacular speech.

How to Cite This Page

APA (7th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. (2025, December 11). Noseholes. HillbillySlang.com. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/noseholes
MLA (9th edition)
"The Hillbilly Dude." "Noseholes." HillbillySlang.com, 11 Dec. 2025, https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/noseholes.
Chicago (17th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. "Noseholes." HillbillySlang.com. December 11, 2025. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/noseholes.