handlock

English

Etymology

From hand +‎ lock.

Noun

handlock (plural handlocks)

1. A locking mechanism that operates by hand.
   • 1958, The British Journal of Photography Annual, page 368:

     This efficient assembly is mounted on anti-vibration points, and handlocks enable the trolley to be rigidly fixed in pre-set and intermediate focusing positions.

   • 1968, Vend - Volume 22, Part 2, page 80:

     Rowe International, Inc., subsidiary of Triangle Industries, Inc., Whippany, N. J. BBC 8 combination coin and bill changer, features roller take-in feed, modular coin tubes, twist-out handlock that can be recombinated on location.

   • 1969, Marine Engineering/log - Volume 74, page 127:

     "Handlock" deck covers are available for access to tank cleaning holes and other types of openings on barges, tankers and cargo vessels. They can be installed by setting a cover down over a hole and turning the handlock.

2. A restraint that attaches to the wrist, especially a shackle or handcuff.
   • 1884, Mary Agnes Hickson, Ireland in the seventeenth century:

     Hugh MacGerrald, being duly sworn and examined, deposeth that he was apprehended by William Graeme, the Provost Marshal, who kept him seven days in his custody, tied with a handlock, and two several times the said Graham threatened to hang this examt. if he would not do service against Phelim MacPheagh, one time sending for a ladder, and another time shewing a tree, whereupon he would hang him and the ropes and withes, but the examt. making protestation of having no matter to lay to the said Phelim's charge did choose rather to suffer than to impeach him without a cause.

   • 1896, Sir Thomas Stafford, Standish O'Grady, Pacata Hibernia: Or, A History of the Wars in Ireland During the Reign of Queen Elizabeth:

     The priest, being put into a handlock, is sent with a captain and a good guard of soldiers about this business, who guided them to a wood, six miles from the castle, by reason of thick briars and thorns almost impassable, in the midst whereof there is a hollow cave within the ground, not much unlike, by description, Cacus's den, or the mouth of Avernus, in which desolate place they found that old woman and this young child, whom they brought to the governor, and the priest and child were shortly after sent to the President.

   • 1898, James Samuel Stone, Woods and Dales of Derbyshire, page 116:

     On the screen near the door is a handlock, so shaped as to fasten a man's hand whilst water, or perchance ale, was poured down the sleeve of his doublet.

3. A hold for restraining another person by immobilizing their hand.
   • 1987, Larry Bograd, Bernie Entertaining, page 100:

     Lisa gets me in a handlock and starts to kiss me.

   • 1988, Brent Q. Hafen, First Aid for Health Emergencies, page 292:

     Slide air splint up your arm then grasp victim in a handlock while assisting first aider to apply traction to the arm.

   • 1989, New York (State)., New York Court of Appeals. Records and Briefs:

     He had him in a handlock but had not yet succeeded in placing his arm around behind him for handcuffing.

4. Immobilization of the hand.
   • 1963, Ernest Adolf Spiegel, Progress in Neurology and Psychiatry, page 616:

     Typical hypnotic phenomena such as handlock, involuntary body immobility, and selective amnesia were produced by direct suggestion alone, without trance induction, although trance subjects showed more of the phenomena.

Verb

handlock (third-person singular simple present handlocks, present participle handlocking, simple past and past participle handlocked)

1. To restrain with, or as with, a handlock.
   • 1836, Selection of Reports and Papers of the House of Commons:

     With respect to the discipline of the place, there appeared to be but little coercion: two patients only were manacled to their beds, and four were handlocked; the two that were manacled to their beds, and the four that were handlocked, had merely been so, according to the statement of the Keeper, for a few hours, the two in their beds having had, it being a remarkably hot day, a great accession of fever.

   • 1859, Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland:

     Similarly, the burgesses for the city of Kilkenny were, on their return homewards from Parliament, made captive, and carried off handlocked by another servant of the Earl's, who swore at the time he led them away that he wished he had Henry VIII at one end of the handlock, and Viceroy Ormond at the other!

   • 1887, M. L. O'Byrne, The Court of Rath Croghan, Or, Dead But Not Forgotten, page 78:

     Hi-Cinsellah, when he deemed my arm could help to prop his crazy throne, swore to handlock me in marriage with his daughter Eva, but, seeing the tide swept too strong against us, he cast me off as a broken oar, sens the princess and her maidens to the convent of St. Bridget in Cilldair, and with sixty followers, all his muster, scours away to England's king, to purchase with her hand his aid in the war he is about to wage with Eire.

   • 1988, Peter Schenkel, Eti: A Challenge for Change, page 85:

     With but a few exceptions, political establishments all over the world are handlocked by immobilism and the tight grip of the superpower's bid for global supremacy.

2. To lock by means of a handlock.
   • 1983, A. E. Van Vogt, Computerworld, page 130:

     She turns, and closes, and handlocks the door.

3. To restrain by holding so as to immobilize the hand.
   • 1826, Sir Walter Scott, Woodstock:

     'Vanity of vanities,' said Holdenough, smiling kindly at the same time, and still holding his recovered friend's arm inclosed and handlocked in his.

   • 1970, California Journal for Instructional Improvement:

     This time, his mother handlocked him, picked him up, and forced him to get into her car.