Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1965 (SND Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1709, 1769-1838, 1931-1939
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LOCKFAST, adj., v.
I. adj. Fastened by a lock, shut and locked, secured under lock and key against interference. Gen.Sc.Sc. 1769 Morison Decisions 10540:
The usual stile in captions, "steiked and lock-fast places," applies not only to those that are locked, but to those that are steiked or shut in such a manner as that a messenger cannot enter by the common door.Sc. 1773 Erskine Institute iii. vi. § 25:
If the debtor's goods be within lockfast doors, to which the messenger … cannot get easy access, he ought to return an execution setting forth that fact, on which a new precept will be directed of course for making open doors.Sc. 1816 Scott B. Dwarf x.:
The risk o' bad neighbours that can win through steekit doors and lockfast places.Sc. 1838 W. Bell Dict. Law Scot. 606:
The opening of lockfast places is an aggravation of theft … As to the mode of obtaining access to lockfast places in order to execute diligence or the like, see Open Doors, King's Keys.Mry. 1931 J. Geddie Characters 125:
For holding these Jock had a strong lockfast box.Sc. 1939 St Andrews Cit. (21 Dec.) 3:
He pleaded guilty to two charges of having stolen hens from lockfast henhouses.
†II. v. To make fast and secure by lock and key, to lock up.Lnk. 1709 Minutes J.P.s (S.H.S.) 75:
James Gray … did putt new lockes thereone and lockfasted the saids doors.
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"Lockfast adj., v.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 5 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/lockfast>
