padlock

From earlier pad lock (19th c.); Middle English padlock, padlokke, from pad-, of unknown origin, + lok (“lock”). Perhaps originally a lock for a pad (“gate”), or a gate opening to a path, or a lock for a basket or pannier, from UK dialect pad (“a pannier”).

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈpadˌlɒk/

  • Audio (Southern England)

    (file)

• Hyphenation: pad‧lock

padlock (plural padlocks)

1. A detachable lock that can be used to secure something by means of a sliding or hinged shackle

• lock

• spring padlock

• combination lock

padlock (third-person singular simple present padlocks, present participle padlocking, simple past and past participle padlocked)

1. To lock using a padlock.
   • 1989, Del Amitri, “Nothing Ever Happens” (song):

     Janitors padlock the gates.

• padlock on Wikipedia.Wikipedia