latch
noun
- door fastener
verb
- fasten
Wiktionary
Pronunciation: /læt͡ʃ/
noun
Etymology: 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.
- 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.”
- An electronic circuit that is like a flip-flop, except that it is level triggered instead of edge triggered.
- A latching.
- A crossbow.
- That which fastens or holds; a lace; a snare.
“Love will none other birde catch, Though he set either nette or latch”
- A breastfeeding baby's connection to the breast.
- A lightweight lock to protect internal structures from being modified by multiple concurrent accesses.
verb
Etymology: Compare French lécher (“to lick”).
- To smear; to anoint.
“But hast thou yet latch'd the Athenian's eyes With the love-juice , as I did bid thee do?”