night latch

noun

a door lock operated from the inside by a knob and from the outside by a key.

Nearby words

night fighter, night heron, night jasmine, night journey, night key, night latch, night letter, night light, night lizard, night monkey, night nurse

Origin of night latch

First recorded in 1850–55

Also called night bolt.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for night latch

He reached his home out of breath; but then his key to the night-latch would not fit, just because he was excited and in a hurry.
Make or Break|Oliver Optic
The door closed softly behind the retreating figure of the attorney-general, and Kent released the spring of the night-latch.
The Grafters|Francis Lynde
When we were all inside Fleming Stone closed the door, the night-latch of which, of course, snapped itself.
A Chain of Evidence|Carolyn Wells
This was necessary, for our front-door (or main-hatchway) had no night-latch, but was fastened by means of a bolt.
Rudder Grange|Frank R. Stockton

A night-latch and a caretaker who came round once a day was enough for any sensible person.
The Carpet from Bagdad|Harold MacGrath

British Dictionary definitions for night latch

night latch

noun

a door lock that is operated by means of a knob on the inside and a key on the outside

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012