n. [ AS. holt; akin to LG. holt, D. hout, G. holz. Icel. holt; cf Gael. & Ir. coill wood, Gr. &unr_; branch, shoot. ] 1. A piece of woodland; especially, a woody hill. “Every holt and heath.” Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

She sent her voice though all the holt
Before her, and the park. Tennyson. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A deep hole in a river where there is protection for fish; also, a cover, a hole, or hiding place. “ The fox has gone to holt.” C. Kingsley. [ 1913 Webster ]

3d pers. sing. pres. of Hold, contr. from holdeth. [ Obs. ] Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]