lock English · revision 4663

+ English has two nouns spelled ''lock'': a device for fastening, and a tress of hair.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) Both are Old English, and they may come from a root meaning “to bend”.^(Cresswell 2021)^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /lɒk/, US /lɑːk/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ {{homograph|1|fastening}}

+

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=c. 750|origins=gem-pro *lukaną}}

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|lok]], [[inh|ang|loc|t=bolt, fastening; barrier, enclosure; agreement]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) from [[gem-pro|*lukaną]], related to [[ang|lūcan|t=to lock, close]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) also the source of Old Norse lok “fastening, lid”, Old Frisian lok “enclosure, prison”, Old High German loh “dungeon” and German Loch “hole”.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986) Barnhart suggests cognates in Greek lýgos “withe” and Lithuanian lùgnas “pliable”, on the idea of a fastening made by bending twigs.^(Barnhart 1988) The OED notes that the variety of meanings in the Germanic words suggests several independent formations from the root.^(Etymonline) The verb is from the noun, perhaps reinforced by Old Norse loka, and replaced Old English lūcan.^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ An appliance for fastening a door or lid: about 750 in Barnhart, in Cynewulf's Elene;^(Barnhart 1988) about 900 in the OED.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The Old English sense “barrier, enclosure” led to a barrier on a stream (about 1300)^(Etymonline) and to the canal lock with gates and sluices for raising and lowering boats (1570s).^(Etymonline)^(Cresswell 2021) ''Under lock and key'' is from the early 14th century.^(Etymonline) The firing mechanism of a gun is from the 1540s, probably from its likeness to a door latch,^(Etymonline) hence ''lock, stock, and barrel'', the whole thing (1806).^(Etymonline)^(Cresswell 2021) A hold in wrestling is from about 1600.^(Etymonline) The verb, to fasten with a lock, is from about 1300,^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) to embrace closely from the mid-14th century,^(Etymonline) and ''lock horns'' from 1839.^(Etymonline) ''Locksmith'' is from 1440 and ''lockjaw'' from 1803.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 750 – a fastening.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 1300 – a barrier on a river; verb, to lock.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1440 – ''locksmith''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1540s – the firing mechanism of a gun.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1570s – a canal lock.^(Etymonline)

+ * c. 1600 – a hold in wrestling.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1806 – ''lock, stock, and barrel''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1839 – ''lock horns''.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A device worked by a [[key]] or code that keeps a [[door]], lid or container closed.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A section of a [[canal]] or river with gates, where the water level can be changed to raise or lower boats.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A hold in wrestling that stops an opponent from moving.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # The mechanism that fires a gun.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(informal)'' A certainty: ''a lock to win''.^(AHD)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To fasten with a lock.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To shut in or keep out by locking: ''lock someone in''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To become fixed so as not to move, or to hold firmly.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[locker]]

+ * [[locksmith]]

+ * [[lockjaw]]

+ * [[padlock]]

+ * [[deadlock]]

+

+ {{homograph|2|hair}}

+

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=inherited|attested=a. 700|origins=gem-pro *lukkaz}}

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|lok]], [[inh|ang|locc|t=lock of hair, curl]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) from [[gem-pro|*lukkaz]],^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) also the source of Old Frisian and Old Saxon lok, Dutch lok, German Locke and Old Norse lokkr.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986) It is of uncertain origin, perhaps from PIE *lugnós and related to Greek lýgos “pliant twig” and lygízein “to bend”, and Lithuanian lùgnas “flexible”.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ One of the portions into which a head of hair or a beard divides, a tress: before 700 in the OED,^(OED 1989) about 700 in Barnhart.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The plural ''locks'' came to mean the hair of the head in general.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023) A tuft of wool or cotton is from about 1300,^(OED 1989) and a small quantity of hay or straw from about 1440.^(OED 1989) A lovelock or tress of false hair is from 1600.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * a. 700 – a tress of hair.^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1300 – a tuft of wool.^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1440 – a small quantity of hay.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1600 – a lovelock.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A piece of [[hair]] that hangs or curls together; a tress.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(locks)'' The hair of a person's head.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A tuft of wool or cotton.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[lovelock]]

+ * [[dreadlocks]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[reluctance]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}