deadbolt

American  

[ded-bohlt] / ˈdɛdˌboʊlt /

noun

1. a lock bolt that is moved into position by the turning of a knob or key rather than by spring action.

---

Etymology

Origin of deadbolt

dead + bolt ¹

Explanation

A deadbolt is a type of lock that you need a key to open. It's very common to have a deadbolt on an apartment door or the front door of a house. When you turn a key in the lock of a deadbolt, the bolt slides in or out of an opening in the door jamb. Deadbolts are considered to be secure locks that are difficult to open without a key, especially when compared to a spring-loaded lock, the kind you see in the center of a doorknob. While spring latches can be pushed back manually, deadbolts can't — which is why they're called deadbolts. They're dead, or unmovable.

Related Words

• block