Lock n. 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.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."
3.A place from which egress is prevented, as by a lock.
4.The barrier or works which confine the water of a stream or canal.
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.That part or apparatus of a firearm by which the charge is exploded; as, a matchlock, flintlock, percussion lock, etc.
7.A device for keeping a wheel from turning.
8.A grapple in wrestling.
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.
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.