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.

---

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

---

Etymology

Origin of keyway

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

Example Sentences

The proper way is to chalk the piece of wood and push it up the keyway just tightly home, then withdraw and fit it again.

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

At the bottom it has a keyway for a key k, which abuts against the plate p.

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

It is obvious that in this case the keyway in the pulley will be cut parallel, and the taper must be provided for in the key seat in the shaft.

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

We next mark with a scribing-block or surface gauge the depth of the keyway as denoted by the line h, and the marking at that end of the shaft is completed.

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