LOCK (2)

lock (2). Lock, v. to fasten with a lock, grapple, fix, unite, form locks for inland navigation

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Lock, n. [[AS. loc inclosure, an inclosed place, the fastening of a door, fr. lūcan to lock, fasten; akin to OS. lūkan (in comp.), D. luiken, OHG. lūhhan, Icel. l�ka, Goth. lūkan (in comp.); cf. Skr. ruj to break. Cf. Locket.]] 1. 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.
2. 2. A fastening together or interlacing; a closing of one thing upon another; a state of being fixed or immovable.
Albemarle Street closed by a lock of carriages. De Quincey. 3. 3. A place from which egress is prevented, as by a lock. Dryden.
4. 4. The barrier or works which confine the water of a stream or canal.
5. 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.
6. 6. That part or apparatus of a firearm by which the charge is exploded; as, a matchlock, flintlock, percussion lock, etc.
7. 7. A device for keeping a wheel from turning.
8. 8. A grapple in wrestling. Milton.
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.