night key
Americannoun
Etymology
Origin of night key
An Americanism dating back to 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.
The old switchman lends me his night key.
From Bart Stirling's Road to Success Or, The Young Express Agent by Chapman, Allen
She rushed to the door at once, to save him the trouble of finding his night key, and greeted him with affectionate inquiry.
From The Music Master Novelized from the Play by Klein, Charles
The officer let himself into the house with a night key, and the two ascended the stairs, at the top of which the officer led the lad into a small but comfortable room.
From The Boy Allies at Liege by Hayes, Clair W. (Clair Wallace)
Jerry led the way, and with a night key opened the door to the kitchen.
From The Young Oarsmen of Lakeview by Bonehill, Ralph
It was a mistake of his wife to allow Peter Junior a night key.
From The Eye of Dread by Erskine, Payne
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
