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You are here: Home / Language / Where does the word “Padlock” come from and What does Padlock mean?

Where does the word “Padlock” come from and What does Padlock mean?

July 11, 2020 by Karen Hill

The “padlock” is a type of lock that dates from the fifteenth century, but the name poses a riddle.

Our language contains pads of varying kinds and descriptions, but there was only one, totally obsolete now, which was in use before that date.

The toad.

So it may have been that the removable lock of five centuries ago had somewhat of a likeness to the shape of a toad, and was thus so called.

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Filed Under: Language

About Karen Hill

Karen Hill is a freelance writer, editor, and columnist. Born in New York, her work has appeared in the Examiner, Yahoo News, Buzzfeed, among others.

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