Lock chamber

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. [1913 Webster]

2. A fastening together or interlacing; a closing of one thing upon another; a state of being fixed or immovable. [1913 Webster]

Albemarle Street closed by a lock of carriages. --De Quincey. [1913 Webster]

3. A place from which egress is prevented, as by a lock. --Dryden. [1913 Webster]

4. The barrier or works which confine the water of a stream or canal. [1913 Webster]

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}. [1913 Webster]

6. That part or apparatus of a firearm by which the charge is exploded; as, a matchlock, flintlock, percussion lock, etc. [1913 Webster]

7. A device for keeping a wheel from turning. [1913 Webster]

8. A grapple in wrestling. --Milton. [1913 Webster]

{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}. [1913 Webster]