When the kex, or husk, is broken, he proveth a fair flying
butterfly.
Holland.
Key (k), n. [OE. keye, key, kay, AS. cæg.] 1. An instrument by means of
which the bolt of a lock is shot or drawn; usually, a removable metal
instrument fitted to the mechanism of a particular lock and operated by
turning in its place.
2. An instrument which is turned like a key in fastening or adjusting
any mechanism; as, a watch key; a bed key, etc.
3. That part of an instrument or machine which serves as the means of
operating it; as, a telegraph key; the keys of a pianoforte, or of a
typewriter.
4. A position or condition which affords entrance, control, pr
possession, etc.; as, the key of a line of defense; the key of a
country; the key of a political situation. Hence, that which serves to
unlock, open, discover, or solve something unknown or difficult; as,
the key to a riddle; the key to a problem.
Those who are accustomed to reason have got the true key of books.
Locke.
Who keeps the keys of all the creeds.
Tennyson.
5. That part of a mechanism which serves to lock up, make fast, or
adjust to position.
6. (Arch.) (a) A piece of wood used as a wedge. (b) The last board of a
floor when laid down.
7. (Masonry) (a) A keystone. (b) That part of the plastering which is
forced through between the laths and holds the rest in place.
8. (Mach.) (a) A wedge to unite two or more pieces, or adjust their
relative position; a cotter; a forelock. See Illusts. of Cotter, and
Gib. (b) A bar, pin or wedge, to secure a crank, pulley, coupling,
etc., upon a shaft, and prevent relative turning; sometimes holding by
friction alone, but more frequently by its resistance to shearing,
being usually embedded partly in the shaft and partly in the crank,
pulley, etc.
9. (Bot.) An indehiscent, one-seeded fruit furnished with a wing, as
the fruit of the ash and maple; a samara; -- called also key fruit.
10. (Mus.) (a) A family of tones whose regular members are called
diatonic tones, and named key tone (or tonic) or one (or eight),
mediant or three, dominant or five, subdominant or four, submediant or
six, supertonic or two, and subtonic or seven. Chromatic tones are
temporary members of a key, under such names as " sharp four, " "flat
seven," etc. Scales and tunes of every variety are made from the tones
of a key. (b) The fundamental tone of a movement to which its
modulations are referred, and with which it generally begins and ends;
keynote.
Both warbling of one song, both in one key.
Shak.