airlock meaning: definition, etymology and quotations

airlock

noun

Etymology From air + lock.

A sealed, airtight chamber, such as in a manned spacecraft or submarine, used to provide access to and from the sealed area without allowing air out or water in.

At the head of the machine, we are shown the airlock through which people have to pass to work on the cutting head, as it operates under pressure to prevent leakages into the tunnel.2022 March 23, Paul Bigland, “HS2 is just 'passing through'”, in RAIL, number 953, page 42:

Architecture Informal A vestibule, foyer or entranceway with doors to the exterior on one end and doors to the interior on the other, functioning to keep indoor and outdoor air, humidity, and air temperatures separate.

Alternative Alternative form of air lock.

airlock

verb

Etymology From air + lock.

To secure with an airlock.

To dispose of through an airlock.

Delighted by the unexpected two-pelt bonus, he airlocked the meat. Wookiee tasted oily and foul.2011 June 28, Kevin Anderson, Tales of the Bounty Hunters: Star Wars Legends, Random House Worlds, →ISBN:
I'm glad I hid it when I arrived on board because I'm pretty sure Skylar would've airlocked it along with my trusty cardigan and my dirty sneakers if she found them.2019 September 6, S. J. Pajonas, First Flyght: A Reverse Harem Space Opera Romance, Onigiri Press, →ISBN:

1 more example

I think he'd airlock me if he knew my real feelings.2019 November 4, Nick Adams, The Andromedan Fold: An explosive space opera adventure, Elliptical Publishing, →ISBN:

Figuratively To firewall, to maintain an ethical wall.

[…]cosmetics manufacturing enterprises do not want to have wholesalers standing in the middle to mark up prices of their products, and this has in fact affected the competitiveness of the manufacturers and airlocked the manufacturers from consumer dynamics.1998, Jonathan Reuvid, Doing Business with China, GMB Publishing, Limited: