Meaning
A telephone line that is always staffed and able to give immediate assistance.
Etymology
Origin: Old English
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *keHy- Proto-Indo-European *dʰeh₁- Proto-Indo-European *-eti Proto-Indo-European *-dʰh₁eti Proto-Indo-European *-dʰeti Proto-Indo-European *kéHidʰeti Proto-Indo-European *kéHidos Proto-Germanic *haitaz Proto-West Germanic *hait Old English hāt Middle English hot English hot Proto-Indo-European *līno-der.? Proto-Germanic *līną Proto-Germanic *līnǭ Proto-West Germanic *līnā Old English līne Middle English line English line English hotline From hot + line.
NYT Puzzle Appearances
Accepted in 2 recorded puzzles, including a pangram: