hideout
UK: ˈhaɪdaʊt | US: ˈhaɪdaʊt
n. a place where someone hides, especially to avoid being found or caught
The word "hideout" is a compound of "hide" (from Old English hȳdan, meaning "to conceal") and "out" (from Old English ūt, meaning "outside" or "away"). It emerged in the early 19th century, originally used to describe a secluded place where fugitives or criminals could evade capture. The combination reflects the literal action of "hiding out" (staying concealed in an external or remote location). Over time, it broadened to include any secret refuge, often with a connotation of illicit activity.
The thieves used an abandoned cabin as their hideout.
Police raided the gang's hideout at dawn.
The spy had a hidden hideout in the mountains.
Kids built a makeshift hideout in the woods.
The fugitive was found in his hideout after weeks of searching.