from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Lock \Lock\, n. [AS. loc inclosure, an inclosed place, the
fastening of a door, fr. l[=u]can to lock, fasten; akin to
OS. l[=u]kan (in comp.), D. luiken, OHG. l[=u]hhan, Icel.
l[=u]ka, Goth. l[=u]kan (in comp.); cf. Skr. ruj to break.
Cf. {Locket}.]
1. Anything that fastens; specifically, a fastening, as for a
door, a lid, a trunk, a drawer, and the like, in which a
bolt is moved by a key so as to hold or to release the
thing fastened.
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2. A fastening together or interlacing; a closing of one
thing upon another; a state of being fixed or immovable.
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Albemarle Street closed by a lock of carriages. --De
Quincey.
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3. A place from which egress is prevented, as by a lock.
--Dryden.
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4. The barrier or works which confine the water of a stream
or canal.
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5. An inclosure in a canal with gates at each end, used in
raising or lowering boats as they pass from one level to
another; -- called also {lift lock}.
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6. That part or apparatus of a firearm by which the charge is
exploded; as, a matchlock, flintlock, percussion lock,
etc.
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7. A device for keeping a wheel from turning.
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8. A grapple in wrestling. --Milton.
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{Detector lock}, a lock containing a contrivance for showing
whether it as has been tampered with.
{Lock bay} (Canals), the body of water in a lock chamber.
{Lock chamber}, the inclosed space between the gates of a
canal lock.
{Lock nut}. See {Check nut}, under {Check}.
{Lock plate}, a plate to which the mechanism of a gunlock is
attached.
{Lock rail} (Arch.), in ordinary paneled doors, the rail
nearest the lock.
{Lock rand} (Masonry), a range of bond stone. --Knight.
{Mortise lock}, a door lock inserted in a mortise.
{Rim lock}, a lock fastened to the face of a door, thus
differing from a {mortise lock}.
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