Rat hole

Posted by RRC on June 27, 2007

In Reply to: Rat hole Posted by Kat O'Brien on June 27, 2007

: Can someone tell me when the term "rat hole" or rathole came into use, meaning to hide money or assets? My husband says it came into being in the 80's in financial circles.

Don't know for sure but here's a quote found on Google News Archive from the 1889 (not 19, but 1889) Washington Post:
"the latter is so far A failure as A ditch, and A success as A financial rat hole."