keyway

American  

[kee-wey] / ˈkiˌweɪ /

noun

1. Machinery. a groove in a shaft, the hub of a wheel, etc., for receiving part of a key holding it to another part.

2. a slot in a lock for receiving and guiding the key.

3. (in poured-concrete construction) a longitudinal groove in a footing, or in a pour that has set, providing a key for newly poured concrete.

4. a depression or slot carved into rock to provide a bond or anchorage for a structure, as a dam.

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keyway British  

/ ˈkiːˌweɪ /

noun

1. a longitudinal slot cut into a component to accept a key that engages with a similar slot on a mating component to prevent relative motion of the two components

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Etymology

Origin of keyway

First recorded in 1865–70; key ¹ + way ¹

Example Sentences

A succession of these broaches is used, each requiring one stroke of the press to force it within the keyway, and another to force it out.

From Modern Machine-Shop Practice, Volumes I and II by Rose, Joshua

The keyway is semicircular, as shown at g in Fig.

From Modern Machine-Shop Practice, Volumes I and II by Rose, Joshua

These plugs must be of the same metal as that in which the keyway is cut, otherwise the drill will be apt to run to one side.

From Modern Machine-Shop Practice, Volumes I and II by Rose, Joshua

The keyways may be carried along the circumference of the shaft by a square applied to its end face, or if that face is not flat by the ordinary keyway marking tool.

From Modern Machine-Shop Practice, Volumes I and II by Rose, Joshua

This permits the wheel to be moved along the shaft while being driven through the medium of the feather along the keyway or spline.

From Modern Machine-Shop Practice, Volumes I and II by Rose, Joshua