Peer review – 2009

The LIST Council has been asked by ALOA and others to complete what would amount to a Dictionary for Locksmiths. We have begun that work and are pleased to submit this installment of the remaining terms that have been identified as specific to our industry.  Terms in this listing marked with an asterisk indicate current terms from the Locksmith Dictionary that have a revised definition proposed.

 

When making a definition of a term, we applied the following rules to the term:

 

1. Is the term listed in "Webster"?

2. Is the definition there the same meaning used in our industry?

 

To us, "Webster", means a typical pocket dictionary, which could be obtained easily, and on short notice, from any grocery store which has a pocket book display. If the answer to either of the questions above was no, we felt the term must be in our dictionary, otherwise it was common usage which anyone could define.

 

Because there is generally more than one term in use from one geographic area to another, we established the most popular term that most closely describes what it means as the "primary" term to be defined, unless it has different opposing definitions.  All other terms with the same meaning become secondary terms and are only listed in the appendix. With that established, the definitions have to meet the following rules:

 

1. It must describe the subject of the term without graphics.

2. It must describe ONLY the subject of the term.

3. The term should not be used in the definition.

 

If you have a technical objection to any definition, please bring it to the attention of the publisher of this listing, or a member of the LIST Council for review before July 15, 2009.

 

coining

v. the process of pressing metal between two dies in order to form a raised image and markings. Generally related to the bow of a key

 

control additive

n. the numeric value of the thickness of the control sleeve expressed in increments relative to the A2, A3 or A4 format being used

 

*key blank

n. any material manufactured to the proper size and configuration which allows entry into the keyway of a specific locking device and may then be bitted to become an operating key for the device

 

left track

n. the farthest left bitting surface of a sidewinder key, as the wider surface of the blade is viewed with the bow of the key nearest the observer

 

mop plate

n. A narrow plate fixed to the bottom of a door for protection against soiling from a mop; similar to a kickplate

 

overlifting

v. 1. a picking technique using a blank key to raise the tumblers to the top of the keyway, 2. a lock defeat process that uses a comb attack to bypass the normal locking combination, 3. a process that moves a spring loaded tumbler beyond the operating point

 

Passive Anti Theft System

n. an inhibiting automotive system for some Ford Motor vehicles with a transceiver mounted around the ignition which identifies an authorized transponder before enabling the engine functions, often including the starter

 

PATS

abb. Passive Anti Theft System

 

plunge cut

v. to cut a key with a single motion for each cut position, bringing the cutter and key together to alter the height of the blade

 

right track

n. the farthest right bitting surface of a sidewinder key, as the wider surface of the blade is viewed with the bow of the key nearest the observer

 

rotary disc tumbler

n. a circular tumbler with one or more gates. Rotation of the proper key aligns the tumbler gates at a sidebar, fence or shackle slot.

 

spline

n. a groove in a combination lock spindle designed to accept a spline key, 2. the cavity(s) in the shell of a wafer tumbler lock which allows extension of the tumblers to a locked position

 

thumb stop

n. the part of a rim latch that can be used to lock the bolt in either the retracted or extended position until released

 

track

n. the bitting surface of a sidewinder key formed when it is cut

 

underlifting

v. a process that moves a spring loaded tumbler to a point short of the operating point to form a shear line

 

*wafer tumbler

n. 1. a flat tumbler which must be drawn into the cylinder plug by the proper key so that none of its extremities extends into the shell 2. a flat, usually rectangular tumbler with a gate which must be aligned with a sidebar by the proper key

 

 

Appendix

For                              See

*disc tumbler              wafer tumbler

snib                             thumb stop

 

This listing of the glossary is courtesy of