door chain
noun
a short chain with a removable slide fitting that can be attached between the inside of a door and the doorjamb to prevent the door from being opened more than a few inches without the chain being removed.
Words nearby door chain
doomwatch, doomy, doon, doona, door, door chain, door charge, door check, door furniture, door handle, door jack
Origin of door chain
First recorded in 1830–40
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020
Examples from the Web for door chain
With something like a shudder she let down the door-chain, unbarred the bolts, and opened the door.
The Golden Butterfly|Walter BesantNatasha puts one end of the door-chain to a little hook in the door.
The Old House and Other Tales|Feodor SologubThere was but one—the one that had been present when Uncle Mo was adjusting that door-chain.
When Ghost Meets Ghost|William Frend De Morgan