church key

See synonyms for church key on Thesaurus.com
nounSlang.
  1. a small metal can opener having a sharp triangular pointed end for punching holes in the top of a beverage can, as of beer.

Origin of church key

1
First recorded in 1950–55

Words Nearby church key

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use church key in a sentence

  • There was always someone yelling for a "church key" (the metal key on the bottom of a can) to borrow.

  • At Tannington also they came to my father to ask him to let them have the church Bible and the church key.

    Two Suffolk Friends | Francis Hindes Groome
  • As a substitute for the usual ring, the church key has been put into requisition.

    Finger-Ring Lore | William Jones
  • "That's not the church key," said Lewis, staring at the one just hung up.

  • A parish clerk recollected an instance of a party that came to the church, and requested to be married with the church key.

    Finger-Ring Lore | William Jones

British Dictionary definitions for church key

church key

noun
  1. US a device with a triangular point at one end for making holes in the tops of cans

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012