Definitions
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.
- noun A cord attached to a latch and often passed through a hole in the door to allow lifting of the latch from the outside.
from The Century Dictionary.
- noun A string passed outward through a hole in a door for the purpose of raising a latch on the inside.
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
- noun A string for raising the latch of a door by a person outside. It is fastened to the latch and passed through a hole above it in the door.
- noun [Colloq. U.S.] to meet with hospitality; to be welcome. (Intrusion is prevented by drawing in the latchstring.)
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- noun A
string attached to alatch allowing it to bedisengaged from the opposite side.
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
- noun opener consisting of a string that can be passed through a hole in a door for raising the latch from outside
Etymologies
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
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Examples
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The latchstring is always out, and tired prospectors and trail-weary men turn aside from the flowing river or frozen trail to rest there for a space and be warm by her fire.
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She enjoys an Old Fashioned (made with Southern Comfort) or a glass of wine on occasion, looks forward to a picnic with friends at the "hearth" in the Redwoods, and always says to those who want to visit overnight or a week, "The latchstring is always out."
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The latchstring is always out, and tired prospectors and trail-weary men turn aside from the flowing river or frozen trail to rest there for a space and be warm by her fire.
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The latchstring to the large house was always out.
The Wit of Porportuk 2010
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Just like Russ and Winnie, the Notos always had the latchstring out for visiting London aficionados.
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She had been fine when he left her, and from the condition of their cabin, whatever had killed her had sickened her so quickly that she hadn't had time to do more than close the door, put out the latchstring, and get into her bed.
Omnibus Lackey, Mercedes 1993
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He moved the latchstring for the lower half back through the hole to where Yfandes could get at it, then rummaged through his own packs for a longer bit of string so that she could pull it closed if she chose.
Magic's Promise Lackey, Mercedes 1990
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He moved the latchstring for the lower half back through the hole to where Yfandes could get at it, then rummaged through his own packs for a longer bit of string so that she could pull it closed if she chose.
Magic's Promise Lackey, Mercedes 1990
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When they finally reached their inn, they used the latchstring on their window to let themselves back inside and felt their way into their room with only the banked embers of the hearthfire for light.
The Oathbound Lackey, Mercedes 1988
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His hand was on the latchstring and he looked at the door, his head tipped down as he spoke.
Stands a Calder Man Janet Dailey 1983
fbharjo commented on the word latchstring
Six consecutive consonants (excluding y)
December 28, 2010