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door chain

American

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.

Etymology

Origin of door chain

First recorded in 1830–40

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

When they had stayed at the hotel previously, in another room, the door did have a door chain.

From BBC • Oct. 15, 2025

The inquest will look at how Theo was able to leave the hotel room unaccompanied, after his mother revealed there was no door chain, and whether there should have been more security at the pool.

From BBC • Oct. 14, 2025

But when Gary, a little person, hurries to get out, he can’t reach the door chain and must ask Arthur for help.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 18, 2019

But when I drove to his house, he had second thoughts and wouldn’t unlatch the door chain to let me in.

From Washington Post • Dec. 2, 2018

Finally the door chain rattles as someone locks it.

From "Girl in the Blue Coat" by Monica Hesse

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023