smuggler's bible
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
A book that has had some of its interior removed for the purpose of storing small items.
Register: slang
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
Inside the Bible's cover is pasted a bookseller's label identifying the article: “A Smuggler's Bible. Used by smugglers on both sides of the Atlantic in the early nineteenth century to conceal small objects of value. Actually a mere box, this ‘Bible’ could be used to contain any assortment of goods
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “smuggler's bible” mean?
A book that has had some of its interior removed for the purpose of storing small items.
Is “smuggler's bible” formal or informal?
smuggler's bible is generally slang.