lever tumbler
- noun
- Specialized
:
palanca de bloqueo
- The locksmith explained how each lever tumbler must be lifted to the correct position for the lock to open.
Examples
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The locksmith explained how each lever tumbler must be aligned for the key to turn the lock.
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When the lever tumbler sticks, the lock may not open even with the correct key.
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Old safes often use a multiple lever tumbler mechanism to provide added security.
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The lever tumbler in this lock is stuck.
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Can you replace the lever tumbler for me?
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Old safes often use a lever tumbler mechanism to enhance their security features.
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When the lever tumbler is misaligned, the lock will not unlock even with the right key.
Synonyms
8
7.4
A flat metal piece in a lock that a key lifts to let the lock open
2
8.4
A small part inside a lock that a key moves to open it
Surface Forms
Morphology
The compound is fully compositional: 'lever' specifies the type of 'tumbler' (the tumbler used in a lever lock), so the meaning is directly derivable from the constituent senses. Although the term is technical, the noun+noun combination follows a straightforward modifier–head pattern that a learner who knows both words can infer.
Etymology
Lever tumbler is a flat metal part inside a lock: imagine a small lever that works like a little tumbler or seesaw, which the key must lift. When each lever tumbler is lifted to the right height, the lock can 'open', so the name shows the part that must move for the lock to work.