latch
nounEtymology From Middle English latche, lacche (“a latch; a trap”), from lacchen (“to seize, catch, grasp”), from Old English læċċan (“to grasp, take hold of, catch, seize”). See above for more.
7 senses
A fastening for a door that has a bar that fits into a notch or slot, and is lifted by a lever or string from either side.
- The cleverly constructed latch which Clayton had made for the door had sprung as Kerchak passed out; nor could the apes find means of ingress through the heavily barred windows.1912 October, Edgar Rice Burroughs, “Tarzan of the Apes”, in The All-Story, New York, N.Y.: Frank A. Munsey Co., →OCLC; republished as chapter 4, in Tarzan of the Apes, New York, N.Y.: A[lbert] L[evi] Burt Company, June 1914, →OCLC:
Business, Electrical engineering, Electricity, Electromagnetism, Electronics, Energy, Engineering, Natural sciences, Physical sciences, Physics An electronic circuit that is like a flip-flop, except that it is level triggered instead of edge triggered.
Obsolete A latching.
Obsolete A crossbow.
Obsolete That which fastens or holds; a lace; a snare.
- Love will none other birde catch, Though he set either nette or latchc. 1360s (date written), Geffray Chaucer [i.e., Geoffrey Chaucer], “The Romaunt of the Rose”, in [William Thynne], editor, The Workes of Geffray Chaucer Newlye Printed, […], [London: […] Richard Grafton for] Iohn Reynes […], published 1542, →OCLC:
A breastfeeding baby's connection to the breast.
Computing, Databases, Engineering, Mathematics, Natural sciences, Physical sciences, Sciences A lightweight lock to protect internal structures from being modified by multiple concurrent accesses.
- Derived terms
- chain latch, deadlatch, doorlatch, drawlatch, latchbolt, latchet, Latchford, latchkey, latchless, latchstring, latch-up, on the latch, spring latch, throatlatch, throat latch