Idioms for lock

Origin of lock

1
before 900; Middle English; Old English loc fastening, bar; cognate with Middle Low German lok, Old High German loh, Old Norse lok a cover, lid, Gothic -luk in usluk opening; akin to Old English lūcan to shut

OTHER WORDS FROM lock

lock·less, adjective self-lock·ing, adjective well-locked, adjective

British Dictionary definitions for lock up (1 of 3)

lock up

verb (adverb)

noun lockup

adjective

lock-up British and NZ (of premises) without living accommodation a lock-up shop

British Dictionary definitions for lock up (2 of 3)

lock 1
/ (lɒk) /

noun

verb

Derived forms of lock

lockable, adjective

Word Origin for lock

Old English loc; related to Old Norse lok

British Dictionary definitions for lock up (3 of 3)

lock 2
/ (lɒk) /

noun

a strand, curl, or cluster of hair
a tuft or wisp of wool, cotton, etc
(plural) mainly literary hair, esp when curly or fine

Word Origin for lock

Old English loc; related to Old Frisian lok, Old Norse lokkr lock of wool

Idioms and Phrases with lock up (1 of 2)

lock up

1

Close a house or place of work, fastening all the doors and windows, as in The attendant locks up at eleven o'clock every night, or Did you remind Abby to lock up? [Late 1500s]

2

Invest in something not easily converted into cash, as in Most of their assets were locked up in real estate. [Late 1600s]

3

lock someone up. Confine or imprison someone, as in The princes were locked up in the Tower of London. [c. 1300]

Idioms and Phrases with lock up (2 of 2)

lock