Word for the thief's key that can unlock anything

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Is there any specific word that describes or denotes a key, which helps thief to steal anything and anywhere, no matter what kind of lock there is; in a nut shell that key can unlock any locks e.g. of room, wardrobe, bike etc.
In some parts of Pakistan, people regard such keys in Urdu as under:
ï¼ﻮﺠï¼ïºÂïºÂﯽ
Translation: thieving key.
In translation, I used the adjective thieving which I got from Internet.
'the thieving key'.
But 'thieving' describes a person, rather than any material... perhaps, there might be an adjective or a noun describing or denoting a key, which can unlock anything, and can open the doors for the theives to steal easily.
Afterthought:
I thought that the two-worded phrase master key might help here, but it totally connotes positivity of the key, about which I am not after:
master key (noun)
- a key that opens several locks, each of which also has its own key. [IMO, it has positive connotation]
See that, in a hotel, a master key can be held by any hotel workers, and those keys are not made for the thieves.
There should be a word having negative connotation, as mentioned previously in Urdu: thieving key.
The thief had [adjective] key.
Or
The thief had [noun for that key]
single-word-requests nouns adjectives
 |Â
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up vote
11
down vote
favorite
Is there any specific word that describes or denotes a key, which helps thief to steal anything and anywhere, no matter what kind of lock there is; in a nut shell that key can unlock any locks e.g. of room, wardrobe, bike etc.
In some parts of Pakistan, people regard such keys in Urdu as under:
ï¼ﻮﺠï¼ïºÂïºÂﯽ
Translation: thieving key.
In translation, I used the adjective thieving which I got from Internet.
'the thieving key'.
But 'thieving' describes a person, rather than any material... perhaps, there might be an adjective or a noun describing or denoting a key, which can unlock anything, and can open the doors for the theives to steal easily.
Afterthought:
I thought that the two-worded phrase master key might help here, but it totally connotes positivity of the key, about which I am not after:
master key (noun)
- a key that opens several locks, each of which also has its own key. [IMO, it has positive connotation]
See that, in a hotel, a master key can be held by any hotel workers, and those keys are not made for the thieves.
There should be a word having negative connotation, as mentioned previously in Urdu: thieving key.
The thief had [adjective] key.
Or
The thief had [noun for that key]
single-word-requests nouns adjectives
3
It's a hypothetical key. And the use of the term is mere metaphorical. There may be no direct equivalent in other languages.
â Kris
11 hours ago
1
Positive or negative connotation depends on context: Thieves use master key to get into buildings, steal mail in San Francisco abc7news.com/news/thieves-use-master-key-to-steal-mail-in-sf/â¦
â user240918
11 hours ago
5
@user240918 They must have stolen the master key first to do that.
â Kris
11 hours ago
1
For the old style locks, 50-100 years ago, it was generally called a "skeleton key" in the US. But these don't work on modern cylinder locks -- must obtain the specific "master key" (if there is one), or simply "pick the lock" with a "lock pick".
â Hot Licks
11 hours ago
1
@Janus, Alohomora is from West African Sidiki dialect, and it is worth noting here that it denotes anything friendly to thieves. But doesn't specify that it's a key.
â Ahmed
7 hours ago
 |Â
show 6 more comments
up vote
11
down vote
favorite
up vote
11
down vote
favorite
Is there any specific word that describes or denotes a key, which helps thief to steal anything and anywhere, no matter what kind of lock there is; in a nut shell that key can unlock any locks e.g. of room, wardrobe, bike etc.
In some parts of Pakistan, people regard such keys in Urdu as under:
ï¼ﻮﺠï¼ïºÂïºÂﯽ
Translation: thieving key.
In translation, I used the adjective thieving which I got from Internet.
'the thieving key'.
But 'thieving' describes a person, rather than any material... perhaps, there might be an adjective or a noun describing or denoting a key, which can unlock anything, and can open the doors for the theives to steal easily.
Afterthought:
I thought that the two-worded phrase master key might help here, but it totally connotes positivity of the key, about which I am not after:
master key (noun)
- a key that opens several locks, each of which also has its own key. [IMO, it has positive connotation]
See that, in a hotel, a master key can be held by any hotel workers, and those keys are not made for the thieves.
There should be a word having negative connotation, as mentioned previously in Urdu: thieving key.
The thief had [adjective] key.
Or
The thief had [noun for that key]
single-word-requests nouns adjectives
Is there any specific word that describes or denotes a key, which helps thief to steal anything and anywhere, no matter what kind of lock there is; in a nut shell that key can unlock any locks e.g. of room, wardrobe, bike etc.
In some parts of Pakistan, people regard such keys in Urdu as under:
ï¼ﻮﺠï¼ïºÂïºÂﯽ
Translation: thieving key.
In translation, I used the adjective thieving which I got from Internet.
'the thieving key'.
But 'thieving' describes a person, rather than any material... perhaps, there might be an adjective or a noun describing or denoting a key, which can unlock anything, and can open the doors for the theives to steal easily.
Afterthought:
I thought that the two-worded phrase master key might help here, but it totally connotes positivity of the key, about which I am not after:
master key (noun)
- a key that opens several locks, each of which also has its own key. [IMO, it has positive connotation]
See that, in a hotel, a master key can be held by any hotel workers, and those keys are not made for the thieves.
There should be a word having negative connotation, as mentioned previously in Urdu: thieving key.
The thief had [adjective] key.
Or
The thief had [noun for that key]
single-word-requests nouns adjectives
single-word-requests nouns adjectives
edited 6 hours ago
asked 12 hours ago
Ahmed
2,4371239
2,4371239
3
It's a hypothetical key. And the use of the term is mere metaphorical. There may be no direct equivalent in other languages.
â Kris
11 hours ago
1
Positive or negative connotation depends on context: Thieves use master key to get into buildings, steal mail in San Francisco abc7news.com/news/thieves-use-master-key-to-steal-mail-in-sf/â¦
â user240918
11 hours ago
5
@user240918 They must have stolen the master key first to do that.
â Kris
11 hours ago
1
For the old style locks, 50-100 years ago, it was generally called a "skeleton key" in the US. But these don't work on modern cylinder locks -- must obtain the specific "master key" (if there is one), or simply "pick the lock" with a "lock pick".
â Hot Licks
11 hours ago
1
@Janus, Alohomora is from West African Sidiki dialect, and it is worth noting here that it denotes anything friendly to thieves. But doesn't specify that it's a key.
â Ahmed
7 hours ago
 |Â
show 6 more comments
3
It's a hypothetical key. And the use of the term is mere metaphorical. There may be no direct equivalent in other languages.
â Kris
11 hours ago
1
Positive or negative connotation depends on context: Thieves use master key to get into buildings, steal mail in San Francisco abc7news.com/news/thieves-use-master-key-to-steal-mail-in-sf/â¦
â user240918
11 hours ago
5
@user240918 They must have stolen the master key first to do that.
â Kris
11 hours ago
1
For the old style locks, 50-100 years ago, it was generally called a "skeleton key" in the US. But these don't work on modern cylinder locks -- must obtain the specific "master key" (if there is one), or simply "pick the lock" with a "lock pick".
â Hot Licks
11 hours ago
1
@Janus, Alohomora is from West African Sidiki dialect, and it is worth noting here that it denotes anything friendly to thieves. But doesn't specify that it's a key.
â Ahmed
7 hours ago
3
3
It's a hypothetical key. And the use of the term is mere metaphorical. There may be no direct equivalent in other languages.
â Kris
11 hours ago
It's a hypothetical key. And the use of the term is mere metaphorical. There may be no direct equivalent in other languages.
â Kris
11 hours ago
1
1
Positive or negative connotation depends on context: Thieves use master key to get into buildings, steal mail in San Francisco abc7news.com/news/thieves-use-master-key-to-steal-mail-in-sf/â¦
â user240918
11 hours ago
Positive or negative connotation depends on context: Thieves use master key to get into buildings, steal mail in San Francisco abc7news.com/news/thieves-use-master-key-to-steal-mail-in-sf/â¦
â user240918
11 hours ago
5
5
@user240918 They must have stolen the master key first to do that.
â Kris
11 hours ago
@user240918 They must have stolen the master key first to do that.
â Kris
11 hours ago
1
1
For the old style locks, 50-100 years ago, it was generally called a "skeleton key" in the US. But these don't work on modern cylinder locks -- must obtain the specific "master key" (if there is one), or simply "pick the lock" with a "lock pick".
â Hot Licks
11 hours ago
For the old style locks, 50-100 years ago, it was generally called a "skeleton key" in the US. But these don't work on modern cylinder locks -- must obtain the specific "master key" (if there is one), or simply "pick the lock" with a "lock pick".
â Hot Licks
11 hours ago
1
1
@Janus, Alohomora is from West African Sidiki dialect, and it is worth noting here that it denotes anything friendly to thieves. But doesn't specify that it's a key.
â Ahmed
7 hours ago
@Janus, Alohomora is from West African Sidiki dialect, and it is worth noting here that it denotes anything friendly to thieves. But doesn't specify that it's a key.
â Ahmed
7 hours ago
 |Â
show 6 more comments
9 Answers
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up vote
26
down vote
The things that thieves actually use to open doors is called a lockpick or picklock. These are actually quite tricky to use, and won't work on all locks, although they do work on many of them.
A master key is something that is made to open all the locks in one building or set of buildings. Generally, managers and janitors have these. But these (or at least, the ones in actual use) don't open all locks; just locks that have been made so as to be opened by this specific key.
A skeleton key is a key that has been (probably illicitly) filed down so that it will open all of some particular class of locks. I don't believe that skeleton keys work on most modern locks, but they do work on old-fashioned types of locks, and so in the past they would have been very useful to thieves.
If you are talking about some mythical key that opens all doors easily, I don't believe there is such a myth in the English-speaking world.
If such a myth actually existed, it might be called a
universal key,
and in fact, Googling universal key shows that it indeed has been used with this meaning
8
"Skeleton key" was (relatively) universal on old "warded" locks. Won't work for modern cylinder locks.
â Hot Licks
11 hours ago
3
The only problem with the term "lockpick" is that if the OP wants a work for a "key," a lockpick don't look like a key - the simplest version (which works fine if you know how to use it!) is just a piece of bent wire.
â alephzero
10 hours ago
9
Even though skeleton keys only worked on some locks and such locks haven't been used in a long time, the phrase has survived and morphed to mean "a key to unlocking (something / anything)." IMHO.
â stannius
6 hours ago
1
I cannot find the usages of universal key that you describe: I just get a lot of people trying to sell handcuffs and/or the standardized key that I guess is used for handcuffs (though I suspect not those actually used by police). I also canâÂÂt find it any dictionaries or the like. And while your description of skeleton key correctly describes the original design and namesake for the term, its metaphorical use as a key-for-all-locks really makes it the answer here.
â KRyan
5 hours ago
5
As @Stannius said, I'd definitely argue that "Skeleton Key" as a phrase is understood as a key that opens all doors. It's definitely the commonly used term for an enchanted or magical key of this type in most fantasy works + RPG games.
â SchrodingersStat
5 hours ago
 |Â
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up vote
26
down vote
Skeleton key has been suggested by many other answers, but always as a secondary suggestion. That would be incorrect: it is the correct answer here. No other answer suggested, possibly excepting the archaic passe-partout, has this meaning.
A skeleton key is a key which has been specially made so that it will open many different locks.
(Collins)
Many dictionaries, as well as Wikipedia, will tell you about the original design of a skeleton key: a key with all the ridges filed away so that it can open many locks. ItâÂÂs actually where the name comes from, as stripping off the ridges was said to leave only the keyâÂÂs âÂÂskeleton.â Anyway, that design only works on rather basic locks known as warded locks. Warded locks are not much in use anymore, largely because of the vulnerability to skeleton keys, therefore the original skeleton key design is not generally all that useful for theft.
On the other hand, the term skeleton key has outlived the original design, and is often used to describe a hypothetical key that opens any lock, rather than just those susceptible to the original skeleton design. For instance,
Many times refers to a magical key that will sucessfully unlock anything.
(Urban DictionaryâÂÂnote that by the third definition, the term has become a euphemism for sex, as most Urban Dictionary definitions eventually end up doing)
Used metaphorically, then, skeleton key means a key that will open any lock. Given the sophistication of modern locks, and the many different designs for them, this is generally treated as a magical ability, since no actual key could open all of those different locks. In my experience, the metaphorical usage of skeleton key is far more common than the specific historical design that it is named after.
Master Key
Master keys are legitimate, intentional tools used by property owners, not thievesâ tools. Typically, a set of locks must be produced together, along with a master key that opens all of them; you usually canâÂÂt take some random set of locks and make a master key for all of them. For example, if you own a building, you might have the locks for your doors made with a master key, and then give it to a janitor for cleaning. If a thief got their hands on a master key for a building or whatever that they wished to rob, it makes the theft very easy, of course, but ultimately this is no different from stealing the key or keys that open whatever you need. The master key is easier because itâÂÂs one key that opens many locks.
A master key is a key which will open all the locks in a set, even though each lock has its own different key.
(Collins Dictionary)
Passkey
The word passkey can mean master key, or it can mean skeleton key. When used to mean skeleton key, it can have this meaning, but the fact that it can instead mean master key makes it less than useful here.
- MASTER KEY
- SKELETON KEY
(Meriam-Webster)
Universal Key
Universal key is not a common term, and I can find no dictionary that includes it. A quick Google search suggests that by far the most common usage for this term is a âÂÂuniversal handcuff key,â a simple cylinder with a little âÂÂflag.â There may well be many handcuffs made to open with such a key, but itâÂÂs not going to open much else (and I suspect police actually use something else for their handcuffs anyway).
Anyway, not what you are looking for.
Lock picks and bump keys
On the other hand, lock picks and bump keys are definitely theivesâ tools, which can be used to open up locks with some skill and effort. Many locks are very easy to pick; many locks are nearly, if not outright, impossible to pick. Either way, lock picking is a skill and these tools help; they donâÂÂt just open the lock automatically for you.
Importantly, even though a bump key is called a âÂÂkey,â it doesnâÂÂt really work like oneâÂÂyou canâÂÂt just stick it in, turn it, and expect the lock to open. Instead, you have to âÂÂbumpâ the lock to get it to open. However, itâÂÂs worth noting that the bump key does bear some similarities to the original design of the skeleton keyâÂÂlike the skeleton key was filed smooth to foil cylinder locks, the bump key consists of several unusually-sharp points which can be used to bump pin-tumbler locks. Like the original skeleton key, the bump key is not useful for other lock designs. Unlike skeleton key, though, bump key has not reached the quasi-legendary status that skeleton key has, and it is not used for a hypothetical key-for-all-locks.
Another phrase, especially useful with electronic security devices, is "back-door key". Essentially a master key the lock is engineered to accept, but whose existence is concealed from the owner of the lock by the maker.
â supercat
4 hours ago
5
I think this is the best answer, or at least the answer which most closely matches my experience. "Skeleton key" is exactly the phrase I would use for "key that a thief can use to open any lock" regardless of whether such a thing is physically possible or even really a physical key.
â Kamil Drakari
4 hours ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
18
down vote
You are probably looking for passe-partout:
something that secures entry everywhere, esp a master key
Also skeleton key or passkey:
A skeleton key is a key which has been specially made so that it will open many different locks.
(Collins Dictionary)
1
I agree that this is great option, but it's an archaic term.
â Ahmed
11 hours ago
30
"Skeleton key" is exactly what OP is looking for. Passkey would probably fit, but, like "master key", implies legitimacy. I like passe-partout, but it really isn't in common use.
â TimLymington
11 hours ago
14
+1 to Skeleton key...and it would be helpful to the OP to know which word is being upvoted/downvoted if you answered just one word per answer.
â Keeta
10 hours ago
11
+1 for skeleton key as this is the one according to OPs clarification. The main difference (missing in the answer) is that a master key is a key intended for a set of locks, e.g. all locks in a specific building. This is usually used by someone with a high access to all premises. If a thief gets hand on one they'll access any room in the specific building (which helps in a theft for sure) but they need to steal the key (or obtain it some other way). A skeleton key is a key used to open a lock for which you don't have a valid key, i.e. to pick a lock. And that's what thieves do (and own).
â Ister
10 hours ago
1
@user240918 My mother tongue is German, and the German word "Dietrich" was the word that came into my mind immediately. A quick dictionary lookup showed "skeleton key", "picklock" and "lockpick". IMHO, "passe-partout" is more common for the wide border between a picture and its frame.
â rexkogitans
7 hours ago
 |Â
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up vote
7
down vote
You could call it a master key
: a key designed to open several different locks
- Similarly, hotel rooms around the world are vulnerable to a hack that lets an intruder mimic a hotel's master key and open any door.
Brian Barrett, WIRED, "Security News This Week: The Biggest DDoS For Hire Site Goes Down," 28 Apr. 2018
or a skeleton key
a key that will open several doors
Thieves may have used 'skeleton key' in Wigan break-ins
5
Perhaps worth noting that a skeleton key is a specific subtype of master keyâÂÂa key with elements filed down to bypass the parts of a (poorly designed) lock that actually do the locking, instead operating the actuator directly. It is possible to create a master key for a set of properly designed locks without any of them being vulnerable to a skeleton key.
â Anko
11 hours ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
4
down vote
What about a master key
master key (noun)
- a key that opens several locks, each of which also has its own key.
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1
Oldest correct answer!
â Pedro Lobito
10 hours ago
1
This not the correct answer. A master key is custom made to order for a specific set of locks. If a thief has it or the ring of keys that also open the specific set of locks, they only have access to those specific locks.
â James Jenkins
6 hours ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
4
down vote
In terms of what modern thieves are likely to actually use, consider bump key.
Bump keys are specific to a lock type, effectively single use and they require considerable force to work. They are quite inelegant, although very effective and extremely fast to operate - they work in seconds.
Lock bumping is a lock picking technique for opening a pin tumbler lock using a specially crafted bump key, rapping key or a
999 key.
...
Lock bumping is a trend in burglaries, which can make it easy and fast
to break into homes without needing too much special equipment or
leaving any trace of forced entry. It works almost as well as actually
having a key, and a set of ten rapping keys can make the criminals
capable of opening 90% of common tumbler locks. However, criminals
might choose to avoid lock bumping when stealth is required, because
of the noisiness of the process. Almost all tumbler locks are
vulnerable to bumping.
(However, I think you have already got an equivalent expression to your thief's key in skeleton key, which is dated enough to have charm, is a word children would know, and also has a hint of the sinister about it.)
Any of the better in-patent locks (Primus, Medeco etc.) will be resistant to bumping because they use really weird keyways that have additional keying in the keyway that won't bump. Only the mfgr. Can make the odd keyway features and only your locksmith can obtain them. They cost about $70 per tumbler set and $13 per key, and they go in higher quality knobsets that cost a fortune (by big-box store residential standards). Would I use one on my house? You bet your bippy.
â Harper
2 hours ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
4
down vote
If we get away from the practicalities of whether such keys exist in reality and look at keys which do exist in fairy-tales and other fiction, we find a clear distinction between a master key which is made with good intent, and only available to the thief by theft, deception etc., and a skeleton key which is made with evil intent. Supernatural forces are often used, either to actually make the key or to find out how to. A third method is to take an ordinary key and cast a spell on it. Whatever method you use the principle is that a skeleton key is the most widely understood term for a universal key made with evil intent and found in stories.
add a comment |Â
up vote
2
down vote
Other answers have suggested this, but to make it clearer, no such key exists. A master key can open many locks, but not all. And even when there were skeleton keys in common use, there were also locks of other types, just as today there are tumbler locks with flat keys to lift pins, flat keys where the pins fit in holes on the flat side, and tubular keys (and several other types).
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
Perhaps, people might consider it a pass key.
pass key noun
a key to the door of a
restricted area, given
only to those who are
officially allowed access.
a master key.
add a comment |Â
9 Answers
9
active
oldest
votes
9 Answers
9
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
26
down vote
The things that thieves actually use to open doors is called a lockpick or picklock. These are actually quite tricky to use, and won't work on all locks, although they do work on many of them.
A master key is something that is made to open all the locks in one building or set of buildings. Generally, managers and janitors have these. But these (or at least, the ones in actual use) don't open all locks; just locks that have been made so as to be opened by this specific key.
A skeleton key is a key that has been (probably illicitly) filed down so that it will open all of some particular class of locks. I don't believe that skeleton keys work on most modern locks, but they do work on old-fashioned types of locks, and so in the past they would have been very useful to thieves.
If you are talking about some mythical key that opens all doors easily, I don't believe there is such a myth in the English-speaking world.
If such a myth actually existed, it might be called a
universal key,
and in fact, Googling universal key shows that it indeed has been used with this meaning
8
"Skeleton key" was (relatively) universal on old "warded" locks. Won't work for modern cylinder locks.
â Hot Licks
11 hours ago
3
The only problem with the term "lockpick" is that if the OP wants a work for a "key," a lockpick don't look like a key - the simplest version (which works fine if you know how to use it!) is just a piece of bent wire.
â alephzero
10 hours ago
9
Even though skeleton keys only worked on some locks and such locks haven't been used in a long time, the phrase has survived and morphed to mean "a key to unlocking (something / anything)." IMHO.
â stannius
6 hours ago
1
I cannot find the usages of universal key that you describe: I just get a lot of people trying to sell handcuffs and/or the standardized key that I guess is used for handcuffs (though I suspect not those actually used by police). I also canâÂÂt find it any dictionaries or the like. And while your description of skeleton key correctly describes the original design and namesake for the term, its metaphorical use as a key-for-all-locks really makes it the answer here.
â KRyan
5 hours ago
5
As @Stannius said, I'd definitely argue that "Skeleton Key" as a phrase is understood as a key that opens all doors. It's definitely the commonly used term for an enchanted or magical key of this type in most fantasy works + RPG games.
â SchrodingersStat
5 hours ago
 |Â
show 2 more comments
up vote
26
down vote
The things that thieves actually use to open doors is called a lockpick or picklock. These are actually quite tricky to use, and won't work on all locks, although they do work on many of them.
A master key is something that is made to open all the locks in one building or set of buildings. Generally, managers and janitors have these. But these (or at least, the ones in actual use) don't open all locks; just locks that have been made so as to be opened by this specific key.
A skeleton key is a key that has been (probably illicitly) filed down so that it will open all of some particular class of locks. I don't believe that skeleton keys work on most modern locks, but they do work on old-fashioned types of locks, and so in the past they would have been very useful to thieves.
If you are talking about some mythical key that opens all doors easily, I don't believe there is such a myth in the English-speaking world.
If such a myth actually existed, it might be called a
universal key,
and in fact, Googling universal key shows that it indeed has been used with this meaning
8
"Skeleton key" was (relatively) universal on old "warded" locks. Won't work for modern cylinder locks.
â Hot Licks
11 hours ago
3
The only problem with the term "lockpick" is that if the OP wants a work for a "key," a lockpick don't look like a key - the simplest version (which works fine if you know how to use it!) is just a piece of bent wire.
â alephzero
10 hours ago
9
Even though skeleton keys only worked on some locks and such locks haven't been used in a long time, the phrase has survived and morphed to mean "a key to unlocking (something / anything)." IMHO.
â stannius
6 hours ago
1
I cannot find the usages of universal key that you describe: I just get a lot of people trying to sell handcuffs and/or the standardized key that I guess is used for handcuffs (though I suspect not those actually used by police). I also canâÂÂt find it any dictionaries or the like. And while your description of skeleton key correctly describes the original design and namesake for the term, its metaphorical use as a key-for-all-locks really makes it the answer here.
â KRyan
5 hours ago
5
As @Stannius said, I'd definitely argue that "Skeleton Key" as a phrase is understood as a key that opens all doors. It's definitely the commonly used term for an enchanted or magical key of this type in most fantasy works + RPG games.
â SchrodingersStat
5 hours ago
 |Â
show 2 more comments
up vote
26
down vote
up vote
26
down vote
The things that thieves actually use to open doors is called a lockpick or picklock. These are actually quite tricky to use, and won't work on all locks, although they do work on many of them.
A master key is something that is made to open all the locks in one building or set of buildings. Generally, managers and janitors have these. But these (or at least, the ones in actual use) don't open all locks; just locks that have been made so as to be opened by this specific key.
A skeleton key is a key that has been (probably illicitly) filed down so that it will open all of some particular class of locks. I don't believe that skeleton keys work on most modern locks, but they do work on old-fashioned types of locks, and so in the past they would have been very useful to thieves.
If you are talking about some mythical key that opens all doors easily, I don't believe there is such a myth in the English-speaking world.
If such a myth actually existed, it might be called a
universal key,
and in fact, Googling universal key shows that it indeed has been used with this meaning
The things that thieves actually use to open doors is called a lockpick or picklock. These are actually quite tricky to use, and won't work on all locks, although they do work on many of them.
A master key is something that is made to open all the locks in one building or set of buildings. Generally, managers and janitors have these. But these (or at least, the ones in actual use) don't open all locks; just locks that have been made so as to be opened by this specific key.
A skeleton key is a key that has been (probably illicitly) filed down so that it will open all of some particular class of locks. I don't believe that skeleton keys work on most modern locks, but they do work on old-fashioned types of locks, and so in the past they would have been very useful to thieves.
If you are talking about some mythical key that opens all doors easily, I don't believe there is such a myth in the English-speaking world.
If such a myth actually existed, it might be called a
universal key,
and in fact, Googling universal key shows that it indeed has been used with this meaning
edited 9 hours ago
answered 11 hours ago
Peter Shor
59.8k5115211
59.8k5115211
8
"Skeleton key" was (relatively) universal on old "warded" locks. Won't work for modern cylinder locks.
â Hot Licks
11 hours ago
3
The only problem with the term "lockpick" is that if the OP wants a work for a "key," a lockpick don't look like a key - the simplest version (which works fine if you know how to use it!) is just a piece of bent wire.
â alephzero
10 hours ago
9
Even though skeleton keys only worked on some locks and such locks haven't been used in a long time, the phrase has survived and morphed to mean "a key to unlocking (something / anything)." IMHO.
â stannius
6 hours ago
1
I cannot find the usages of universal key that you describe: I just get a lot of people trying to sell handcuffs and/or the standardized key that I guess is used for handcuffs (though I suspect not those actually used by police). I also canâÂÂt find it any dictionaries or the like. And while your description of skeleton key correctly describes the original design and namesake for the term, its metaphorical use as a key-for-all-locks really makes it the answer here.
â KRyan
5 hours ago
5
As @Stannius said, I'd definitely argue that "Skeleton Key" as a phrase is understood as a key that opens all doors. It's definitely the commonly used term for an enchanted or magical key of this type in most fantasy works + RPG games.
â SchrodingersStat
5 hours ago
 |Â
show 2 more comments
8
"Skeleton key" was (relatively) universal on old "warded" locks. Won't work for modern cylinder locks.
â Hot Licks
11 hours ago
3
The only problem with the term "lockpick" is that if the OP wants a work for a "key," a lockpick don't look like a key - the simplest version (which works fine if you know how to use it!) is just a piece of bent wire.
â alephzero
10 hours ago
9
Even though skeleton keys only worked on some locks and such locks haven't been used in a long time, the phrase has survived and morphed to mean "a key to unlocking (something / anything)." IMHO.
â stannius
6 hours ago
1
I cannot find the usages of universal key that you describe: I just get a lot of people trying to sell handcuffs and/or the standardized key that I guess is used for handcuffs (though I suspect not those actually used by police). I also canâÂÂt find it any dictionaries or the like. And while your description of skeleton key correctly describes the original design and namesake for the term, its metaphorical use as a key-for-all-locks really makes it the answer here.
â KRyan
5 hours ago
5
As @Stannius said, I'd definitely argue that "Skeleton Key" as a phrase is understood as a key that opens all doors. It's definitely the commonly used term for an enchanted or magical key of this type in most fantasy works + RPG games.
â SchrodingersStat
5 hours ago
8
8
"Skeleton key" was (relatively) universal on old "warded" locks. Won't work for modern cylinder locks.
â Hot Licks
11 hours ago
"Skeleton key" was (relatively) universal on old "warded" locks. Won't work for modern cylinder locks.
â Hot Licks
11 hours ago
3
3
The only problem with the term "lockpick" is that if the OP wants a work for a "key," a lockpick don't look like a key - the simplest version (which works fine if you know how to use it!) is just a piece of bent wire.
â alephzero
10 hours ago
The only problem with the term "lockpick" is that if the OP wants a work for a "key," a lockpick don't look like a key - the simplest version (which works fine if you know how to use it!) is just a piece of bent wire.
â alephzero
10 hours ago
9
9
Even though skeleton keys only worked on some locks and such locks haven't been used in a long time, the phrase has survived and morphed to mean "a key to unlocking (something / anything)." IMHO.
â stannius
6 hours ago
Even though skeleton keys only worked on some locks and such locks haven't been used in a long time, the phrase has survived and morphed to mean "a key to unlocking (something / anything)." IMHO.
â stannius
6 hours ago
1
1
I cannot find the usages of universal key that you describe: I just get a lot of people trying to sell handcuffs and/or the standardized key that I guess is used for handcuffs (though I suspect not those actually used by police). I also canâÂÂt find it any dictionaries or the like. And while your description of skeleton key correctly describes the original design and namesake for the term, its metaphorical use as a key-for-all-locks really makes it the answer here.
â KRyan
5 hours ago
I cannot find the usages of universal key that you describe: I just get a lot of people trying to sell handcuffs and/or the standardized key that I guess is used for handcuffs (though I suspect not those actually used by police). I also canâÂÂt find it any dictionaries or the like. And while your description of skeleton key correctly describes the original design and namesake for the term, its metaphorical use as a key-for-all-locks really makes it the answer here.
â KRyan
5 hours ago
5
5
As @Stannius said, I'd definitely argue that "Skeleton Key" as a phrase is understood as a key that opens all doors. It's definitely the commonly used term for an enchanted or magical key of this type in most fantasy works + RPG games.
â SchrodingersStat
5 hours ago
As @Stannius said, I'd definitely argue that "Skeleton Key" as a phrase is understood as a key that opens all doors. It's definitely the commonly used term for an enchanted or magical key of this type in most fantasy works + RPG games.
â SchrodingersStat
5 hours ago
 |Â
show 2 more comments
up vote
26
down vote
Skeleton key has been suggested by many other answers, but always as a secondary suggestion. That would be incorrect: it is the correct answer here. No other answer suggested, possibly excepting the archaic passe-partout, has this meaning.
A skeleton key is a key which has been specially made so that it will open many different locks.
(Collins)
Many dictionaries, as well as Wikipedia, will tell you about the original design of a skeleton key: a key with all the ridges filed away so that it can open many locks. ItâÂÂs actually where the name comes from, as stripping off the ridges was said to leave only the keyâÂÂs âÂÂskeleton.â Anyway, that design only works on rather basic locks known as warded locks. Warded locks are not much in use anymore, largely because of the vulnerability to skeleton keys, therefore the original skeleton key design is not generally all that useful for theft.
On the other hand, the term skeleton key has outlived the original design, and is often used to describe a hypothetical key that opens any lock, rather than just those susceptible to the original skeleton design. For instance,
Many times refers to a magical key that will sucessfully unlock anything.
(Urban DictionaryâÂÂnote that by the third definition, the term has become a euphemism for sex, as most Urban Dictionary definitions eventually end up doing)
Used metaphorically, then, skeleton key means a key that will open any lock. Given the sophistication of modern locks, and the many different designs for them, this is generally treated as a magical ability, since no actual key could open all of those different locks. In my experience, the metaphorical usage of skeleton key is far more common than the specific historical design that it is named after.
Master Key
Master keys are legitimate, intentional tools used by property owners, not thievesâ tools. Typically, a set of locks must be produced together, along with a master key that opens all of them; you usually canâÂÂt take some random set of locks and make a master key for all of them. For example, if you own a building, you might have the locks for your doors made with a master key, and then give it to a janitor for cleaning. If a thief got their hands on a master key for a building or whatever that they wished to rob, it makes the theft very easy, of course, but ultimately this is no different from stealing the key or keys that open whatever you need. The master key is easier because itâÂÂs one key that opens many locks.
A master key is a key which will open all the locks in a set, even though each lock has its own different key.
(Collins Dictionary)
Passkey
The word passkey can mean master key, or it can mean skeleton key. When used to mean skeleton key, it can have this meaning, but the fact that it can instead mean master key makes it less than useful here.
- MASTER KEY
- SKELETON KEY
(Meriam-Webster)
Universal Key
Universal key is not a common term, and I can find no dictionary that includes it. A quick Google search suggests that by far the most common usage for this term is a âÂÂuniversal handcuff key,â a simple cylinder with a little âÂÂflag.â There may well be many handcuffs made to open with such a key, but itâÂÂs not going to open much else (and I suspect police actually use something else for their handcuffs anyway).
Anyway, not what you are looking for.
Lock picks and bump keys
On the other hand, lock picks and bump keys are definitely theivesâ tools, which can be used to open up locks with some skill and effort. Many locks are very easy to pick; many locks are nearly, if not outright, impossible to pick. Either way, lock picking is a skill and these tools help; they donâÂÂt just open the lock automatically for you.
Importantly, even though a bump key is called a âÂÂkey,â it doesnâÂÂt really work like oneâÂÂyou canâÂÂt just stick it in, turn it, and expect the lock to open. Instead, you have to âÂÂbumpâ the lock to get it to open. However, itâÂÂs worth noting that the bump key does bear some similarities to the original design of the skeleton keyâÂÂlike the skeleton key was filed smooth to foil cylinder locks, the bump key consists of several unusually-sharp points which can be used to bump pin-tumbler locks. Like the original skeleton key, the bump key is not useful for other lock designs. Unlike skeleton key, though, bump key has not reached the quasi-legendary status that skeleton key has, and it is not used for a hypothetical key-for-all-locks.
Another phrase, especially useful with electronic security devices, is "back-door key". Essentially a master key the lock is engineered to accept, but whose existence is concealed from the owner of the lock by the maker.
â supercat
4 hours ago
5
I think this is the best answer, or at least the answer which most closely matches my experience. "Skeleton key" is exactly the phrase I would use for "key that a thief can use to open any lock" regardless of whether such a thing is physically possible or even really a physical key.
â Kamil Drakari
4 hours ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
26
down vote
Skeleton key has been suggested by many other answers, but always as a secondary suggestion. That would be incorrect: it is the correct answer here. No other answer suggested, possibly excepting the archaic passe-partout, has this meaning.
A skeleton key is a key which has been specially made so that it will open many different locks.
(Collins)
Many dictionaries, as well as Wikipedia, will tell you about the original design of a skeleton key: a key with all the ridges filed away so that it can open many locks. ItâÂÂs actually where the name comes from, as stripping off the ridges was said to leave only the keyâÂÂs âÂÂskeleton.â Anyway, that design only works on rather basic locks known as warded locks. Warded locks are not much in use anymore, largely because of the vulnerability to skeleton keys, therefore the original skeleton key design is not generally all that useful for theft.
On the other hand, the term skeleton key has outlived the original design, and is often used to describe a hypothetical key that opens any lock, rather than just those susceptible to the original skeleton design. For instance,
Many times refers to a magical key that will sucessfully unlock anything.
(Urban DictionaryâÂÂnote that by the third definition, the term has become a euphemism for sex, as most Urban Dictionary definitions eventually end up doing)
Used metaphorically, then, skeleton key means a key that will open any lock. Given the sophistication of modern locks, and the many different designs for them, this is generally treated as a magical ability, since no actual key could open all of those different locks. In my experience, the metaphorical usage of skeleton key is far more common than the specific historical design that it is named after.
Master Key
Master keys are legitimate, intentional tools used by property owners, not thievesâ tools. Typically, a set of locks must be produced together, along with a master key that opens all of them; you usually canâÂÂt take some random set of locks and make a master key for all of them. For example, if you own a building, you might have the locks for your doors made with a master key, and then give it to a janitor for cleaning. If a thief got their hands on a master key for a building or whatever that they wished to rob, it makes the theft very easy, of course, but ultimately this is no different from stealing the key or keys that open whatever you need. The master key is easier because itâÂÂs one key that opens many locks.
A master key is a key which will open all the locks in a set, even though each lock has its own different key.
(Collins Dictionary)
Passkey
The word passkey can mean master key, or it can mean skeleton key. When used to mean skeleton key, it can have this meaning, but the fact that it can instead mean master key makes it less than useful here.
- MASTER KEY
- SKELETON KEY
(Meriam-Webster)
Universal Key
Universal key is not a common term, and I can find no dictionary that includes it. A quick Google search suggests that by far the most common usage for this term is a âÂÂuniversal handcuff key,â a simple cylinder with a little âÂÂflag.â There may well be many handcuffs made to open with such a key, but itâÂÂs not going to open much else (and I suspect police actually use something else for their handcuffs anyway).
Anyway, not what you are looking for.
Lock picks and bump keys
On the other hand, lock picks and bump keys are definitely theivesâ tools, which can be used to open up locks with some skill and effort. Many locks are very easy to pick; many locks are nearly, if not outright, impossible to pick. Either way, lock picking is a skill and these tools help; they donâÂÂt just open the lock automatically for you.
Importantly, even though a bump key is called a âÂÂkey,â it doesnâÂÂt really work like oneâÂÂyou canâÂÂt just stick it in, turn it, and expect the lock to open. Instead, you have to âÂÂbumpâ the lock to get it to open. However, itâÂÂs worth noting that the bump key does bear some similarities to the original design of the skeleton keyâÂÂlike the skeleton key was filed smooth to foil cylinder locks, the bump key consists of several unusually-sharp points which can be used to bump pin-tumbler locks. Like the original skeleton key, the bump key is not useful for other lock designs. Unlike skeleton key, though, bump key has not reached the quasi-legendary status that skeleton key has, and it is not used for a hypothetical key-for-all-locks.
Another phrase, especially useful with electronic security devices, is "back-door key". Essentially a master key the lock is engineered to accept, but whose existence is concealed from the owner of the lock by the maker.
â supercat
4 hours ago
5
I think this is the best answer, or at least the answer which most closely matches my experience. "Skeleton key" is exactly the phrase I would use for "key that a thief can use to open any lock" regardless of whether such a thing is physically possible or even really a physical key.
â Kamil Drakari
4 hours ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
26
down vote
up vote
26
down vote
Skeleton key has been suggested by many other answers, but always as a secondary suggestion. That would be incorrect: it is the correct answer here. No other answer suggested, possibly excepting the archaic passe-partout, has this meaning.
A skeleton key is a key which has been specially made so that it will open many different locks.
(Collins)
Many dictionaries, as well as Wikipedia, will tell you about the original design of a skeleton key: a key with all the ridges filed away so that it can open many locks. ItâÂÂs actually where the name comes from, as stripping off the ridges was said to leave only the keyâÂÂs âÂÂskeleton.â Anyway, that design only works on rather basic locks known as warded locks. Warded locks are not much in use anymore, largely because of the vulnerability to skeleton keys, therefore the original skeleton key design is not generally all that useful for theft.
On the other hand, the term skeleton key has outlived the original design, and is often used to describe a hypothetical key that opens any lock, rather than just those susceptible to the original skeleton design. For instance,
Many times refers to a magical key that will sucessfully unlock anything.
(Urban DictionaryâÂÂnote that by the third definition, the term has become a euphemism for sex, as most Urban Dictionary definitions eventually end up doing)
Used metaphorically, then, skeleton key means a key that will open any lock. Given the sophistication of modern locks, and the many different designs for them, this is generally treated as a magical ability, since no actual key could open all of those different locks. In my experience, the metaphorical usage of skeleton key is far more common than the specific historical design that it is named after.
Master Key
Master keys are legitimate, intentional tools used by property owners, not thievesâ tools. Typically, a set of locks must be produced together, along with a master key that opens all of them; you usually canâÂÂt take some random set of locks and make a master key for all of them. For example, if you own a building, you might have the locks for your doors made with a master key, and then give it to a janitor for cleaning. If a thief got their hands on a master key for a building or whatever that they wished to rob, it makes the theft very easy, of course, but ultimately this is no different from stealing the key or keys that open whatever you need. The master key is easier because itâÂÂs one key that opens many locks.
A master key is a key which will open all the locks in a set, even though each lock has its own different key.
(Collins Dictionary)
Passkey
The word passkey can mean master key, or it can mean skeleton key. When used to mean skeleton key, it can have this meaning, but the fact that it can instead mean master key makes it less than useful here.
- MASTER KEY
- SKELETON KEY
(Meriam-Webster)
Universal Key
Universal key is not a common term, and I can find no dictionary that includes it. A quick Google search suggests that by far the most common usage for this term is a âÂÂuniversal handcuff key,â a simple cylinder with a little âÂÂflag.â There may well be many handcuffs made to open with such a key, but itâÂÂs not going to open much else (and I suspect police actually use something else for their handcuffs anyway).
Anyway, not what you are looking for.
Lock picks and bump keys
On the other hand, lock picks and bump keys are definitely theivesâ tools, which can be used to open up locks with some skill and effort. Many locks are very easy to pick; many locks are nearly, if not outright, impossible to pick. Either way, lock picking is a skill and these tools help; they donâÂÂt just open the lock automatically for you.
Importantly, even though a bump key is called a âÂÂkey,â it doesnâÂÂt really work like oneâÂÂyou canâÂÂt just stick it in, turn it, and expect the lock to open. Instead, you have to âÂÂbumpâ the lock to get it to open. However, itâÂÂs worth noting that the bump key does bear some similarities to the original design of the skeleton keyâÂÂlike the skeleton key was filed smooth to foil cylinder locks, the bump key consists of several unusually-sharp points which can be used to bump pin-tumbler locks. Like the original skeleton key, the bump key is not useful for other lock designs. Unlike skeleton key, though, bump key has not reached the quasi-legendary status that skeleton key has, and it is not used for a hypothetical key-for-all-locks.
Skeleton key has been suggested by many other answers, but always as a secondary suggestion. That would be incorrect: it is the correct answer here. No other answer suggested, possibly excepting the archaic passe-partout, has this meaning.
A skeleton key is a key which has been specially made so that it will open many different locks.
(Collins)
Many dictionaries, as well as Wikipedia, will tell you about the original design of a skeleton key: a key with all the ridges filed away so that it can open many locks. ItâÂÂs actually where the name comes from, as stripping off the ridges was said to leave only the keyâÂÂs âÂÂskeleton.â Anyway, that design only works on rather basic locks known as warded locks. Warded locks are not much in use anymore, largely because of the vulnerability to skeleton keys, therefore the original skeleton key design is not generally all that useful for theft.
On the other hand, the term skeleton key has outlived the original design, and is often used to describe a hypothetical key that opens any lock, rather than just those susceptible to the original skeleton design. For instance,
Many times refers to a magical key that will sucessfully unlock anything.
(Urban DictionaryâÂÂnote that by the third definition, the term has become a euphemism for sex, as most Urban Dictionary definitions eventually end up doing)
Used metaphorically, then, skeleton key means a key that will open any lock. Given the sophistication of modern locks, and the many different designs for them, this is generally treated as a magical ability, since no actual key could open all of those different locks. In my experience, the metaphorical usage of skeleton key is far more common than the specific historical design that it is named after.
Master Key
Master keys are legitimate, intentional tools used by property owners, not thievesâ tools. Typically, a set of locks must be produced together, along with a master key that opens all of them; you usually canâÂÂt take some random set of locks and make a master key for all of them. For example, if you own a building, you might have the locks for your doors made with a master key, and then give it to a janitor for cleaning. If a thief got their hands on a master key for a building or whatever that they wished to rob, it makes the theft very easy, of course, but ultimately this is no different from stealing the key or keys that open whatever you need. The master key is easier because itâÂÂs one key that opens many locks.
A master key is a key which will open all the locks in a set, even though each lock has its own different key.
(Collins Dictionary)
Passkey
The word passkey can mean master key, or it can mean skeleton key. When used to mean skeleton key, it can have this meaning, but the fact that it can instead mean master key makes it less than useful here.
- MASTER KEY
- SKELETON KEY
(Meriam-Webster)
Universal Key
Universal key is not a common term, and I can find no dictionary that includes it. A quick Google search suggests that by far the most common usage for this term is a âÂÂuniversal handcuff key,â a simple cylinder with a little âÂÂflag.â There may well be many handcuffs made to open with such a key, but itâÂÂs not going to open much else (and I suspect police actually use something else for their handcuffs anyway).
Anyway, not what you are looking for.
Lock picks and bump keys
On the other hand, lock picks and bump keys are definitely theivesâ tools, which can be used to open up locks with some skill and effort. Many locks are very easy to pick; many locks are nearly, if not outright, impossible to pick. Either way, lock picking is a skill and these tools help; they donâÂÂt just open the lock automatically for you.
Importantly, even though a bump key is called a âÂÂkey,â it doesnâÂÂt really work like oneâÂÂyou canâÂÂt just stick it in, turn it, and expect the lock to open. Instead, you have to âÂÂbumpâ the lock to get it to open. However, itâÂÂs worth noting that the bump key does bear some similarities to the original design of the skeleton keyâÂÂlike the skeleton key was filed smooth to foil cylinder locks, the bump key consists of several unusually-sharp points which can be used to bump pin-tumbler locks. Like the original skeleton key, the bump key is not useful for other lock designs. Unlike skeleton key, though, bump key has not reached the quasi-legendary status that skeleton key has, and it is not used for a hypothetical key-for-all-locks.
edited 5 hours ago
answered 5 hours ago
KRyan
2,93121425
2,93121425
Another phrase, especially useful with electronic security devices, is "back-door key". Essentially a master key the lock is engineered to accept, but whose existence is concealed from the owner of the lock by the maker.
â supercat
4 hours ago
5
I think this is the best answer, or at least the answer which most closely matches my experience. "Skeleton key" is exactly the phrase I would use for "key that a thief can use to open any lock" regardless of whether such a thing is physically possible or even really a physical key.
â Kamil Drakari
4 hours ago
add a comment |Â
Another phrase, especially useful with electronic security devices, is "back-door key". Essentially a master key the lock is engineered to accept, but whose existence is concealed from the owner of the lock by the maker.
â supercat
4 hours ago
5
I think this is the best answer, or at least the answer which most closely matches my experience. "Skeleton key" is exactly the phrase I would use for "key that a thief can use to open any lock" regardless of whether such a thing is physically possible or even really a physical key.
â Kamil Drakari
4 hours ago
Another phrase, especially useful with electronic security devices, is "back-door key". Essentially a master key the lock is engineered to accept, but whose existence is concealed from the owner of the lock by the maker.
â supercat
4 hours ago
Another phrase, especially useful with electronic security devices, is "back-door key". Essentially a master key the lock is engineered to accept, but whose existence is concealed from the owner of the lock by the maker.
â supercat
4 hours ago
5
5
I think this is the best answer, or at least the answer which most closely matches my experience. "Skeleton key" is exactly the phrase I would use for "key that a thief can use to open any lock" regardless of whether such a thing is physically possible or even really a physical key.
â Kamil Drakari
4 hours ago
I think this is the best answer, or at least the answer which most closely matches my experience. "Skeleton key" is exactly the phrase I would use for "key that a thief can use to open any lock" regardless of whether such a thing is physically possible or even really a physical key.
â Kamil Drakari
4 hours ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
18
down vote
You are probably looking for passe-partout:
something that secures entry everywhere, esp a master key
Also skeleton key or passkey:
A skeleton key is a key which has been specially made so that it will open many different locks.
(Collins Dictionary)
1
I agree that this is great option, but it's an archaic term.
â Ahmed
11 hours ago
30
"Skeleton key" is exactly what OP is looking for. Passkey would probably fit, but, like "master key", implies legitimacy. I like passe-partout, but it really isn't in common use.
â TimLymington
11 hours ago
14
+1 to Skeleton key...and it would be helpful to the OP to know which word is being upvoted/downvoted if you answered just one word per answer.
â Keeta
10 hours ago
11
+1 for skeleton key as this is the one according to OPs clarification. The main difference (missing in the answer) is that a master key is a key intended for a set of locks, e.g. all locks in a specific building. This is usually used by someone with a high access to all premises. If a thief gets hand on one they'll access any room in the specific building (which helps in a theft for sure) but they need to steal the key (or obtain it some other way). A skeleton key is a key used to open a lock for which you don't have a valid key, i.e. to pick a lock. And that's what thieves do (and own).
â Ister
10 hours ago
1
@user240918 My mother tongue is German, and the German word "Dietrich" was the word that came into my mind immediately. A quick dictionary lookup showed "skeleton key", "picklock" and "lockpick". IMHO, "passe-partout" is more common for the wide border between a picture and its frame.
â rexkogitans
7 hours ago
 |Â
show 3 more comments
up vote
18
down vote
You are probably looking for passe-partout:
something that secures entry everywhere, esp a master key
Also skeleton key or passkey:
A skeleton key is a key which has been specially made so that it will open many different locks.
(Collins Dictionary)
1
I agree that this is great option, but it's an archaic term.
â Ahmed
11 hours ago
30
"Skeleton key" is exactly what OP is looking for. Passkey would probably fit, but, like "master key", implies legitimacy. I like passe-partout, but it really isn't in common use.
â TimLymington
11 hours ago
14
+1 to Skeleton key...and it would be helpful to the OP to know which word is being upvoted/downvoted if you answered just one word per answer.
â Keeta
10 hours ago
11
+1 for skeleton key as this is the one according to OPs clarification. The main difference (missing in the answer) is that a master key is a key intended for a set of locks, e.g. all locks in a specific building. This is usually used by someone with a high access to all premises. If a thief gets hand on one they'll access any room in the specific building (which helps in a theft for sure) but they need to steal the key (or obtain it some other way). A skeleton key is a key used to open a lock for which you don't have a valid key, i.e. to pick a lock. And that's what thieves do (and own).
â Ister
10 hours ago
1
@user240918 My mother tongue is German, and the German word "Dietrich" was the word that came into my mind immediately. A quick dictionary lookup showed "skeleton key", "picklock" and "lockpick". IMHO, "passe-partout" is more common for the wide border between a picture and its frame.
â rexkogitans
7 hours ago
 |Â
show 3 more comments
up vote
18
down vote
up vote
18
down vote
You are probably looking for passe-partout:
something that secures entry everywhere, esp a master key
Also skeleton key or passkey:
A skeleton key is a key which has been specially made so that it will open many different locks.
(Collins Dictionary)
You are probably looking for passe-partout:
something that secures entry everywhere, esp a master key
Also skeleton key or passkey:
A skeleton key is a key which has been specially made so that it will open many different locks.
(Collins Dictionary)
edited 11 hours ago
answered 11 hours ago
user240918
20.3k855132
20.3k855132
1
I agree that this is great option, but it's an archaic term.
â Ahmed
11 hours ago
30
"Skeleton key" is exactly what OP is looking for. Passkey would probably fit, but, like "master key", implies legitimacy. I like passe-partout, but it really isn't in common use.
â TimLymington
11 hours ago
14
+1 to Skeleton key...and it would be helpful to the OP to know which word is being upvoted/downvoted if you answered just one word per answer.
â Keeta
10 hours ago
11
+1 for skeleton key as this is the one according to OPs clarification. The main difference (missing in the answer) is that a master key is a key intended for a set of locks, e.g. all locks in a specific building. This is usually used by someone with a high access to all premises. If a thief gets hand on one they'll access any room in the specific building (which helps in a theft for sure) but they need to steal the key (or obtain it some other way). A skeleton key is a key used to open a lock for which you don't have a valid key, i.e. to pick a lock. And that's what thieves do (and own).
â Ister
10 hours ago
1
@user240918 My mother tongue is German, and the German word "Dietrich" was the word that came into my mind immediately. A quick dictionary lookup showed "skeleton key", "picklock" and "lockpick". IMHO, "passe-partout" is more common for the wide border between a picture and its frame.
â rexkogitans
7 hours ago
 |Â
show 3 more comments
1
I agree that this is great option, but it's an archaic term.
â Ahmed
11 hours ago
30
"Skeleton key" is exactly what OP is looking for. Passkey would probably fit, but, like "master key", implies legitimacy. I like passe-partout, but it really isn't in common use.
â TimLymington
11 hours ago
14
+1 to Skeleton key...and it would be helpful to the OP to know which word is being upvoted/downvoted if you answered just one word per answer.
â Keeta
10 hours ago
11
+1 for skeleton key as this is the one according to OPs clarification. The main difference (missing in the answer) is that a master key is a key intended for a set of locks, e.g. all locks in a specific building. This is usually used by someone with a high access to all premises. If a thief gets hand on one they'll access any room in the specific building (which helps in a theft for sure) but they need to steal the key (or obtain it some other way). A skeleton key is a key used to open a lock for which you don't have a valid key, i.e. to pick a lock. And that's what thieves do (and own).
â Ister
10 hours ago
1
@user240918 My mother tongue is German, and the German word "Dietrich" was the word that came into my mind immediately. A quick dictionary lookup showed "skeleton key", "picklock" and "lockpick". IMHO, "passe-partout" is more common for the wide border between a picture and its frame.
â rexkogitans
7 hours ago
1
1
I agree that this is great option, but it's an archaic term.
â Ahmed
11 hours ago
I agree that this is great option, but it's an archaic term.
â Ahmed
11 hours ago
30
30
"Skeleton key" is exactly what OP is looking for. Passkey would probably fit, but, like "master key", implies legitimacy. I like passe-partout, but it really isn't in common use.
â TimLymington
11 hours ago
"Skeleton key" is exactly what OP is looking for. Passkey would probably fit, but, like "master key", implies legitimacy. I like passe-partout, but it really isn't in common use.
â TimLymington
11 hours ago
14
14
+1 to Skeleton key...and it would be helpful to the OP to know which word is being upvoted/downvoted if you answered just one word per answer.
â Keeta
10 hours ago
+1 to Skeleton key...and it would be helpful to the OP to know which word is being upvoted/downvoted if you answered just one word per answer.
â Keeta
10 hours ago
11
11
+1 for skeleton key as this is the one according to OPs clarification. The main difference (missing in the answer) is that a master key is a key intended for a set of locks, e.g. all locks in a specific building. This is usually used by someone with a high access to all premises. If a thief gets hand on one they'll access any room in the specific building (which helps in a theft for sure) but they need to steal the key (or obtain it some other way). A skeleton key is a key used to open a lock for which you don't have a valid key, i.e. to pick a lock. And that's what thieves do (and own).
â Ister
10 hours ago
+1 for skeleton key as this is the one according to OPs clarification. The main difference (missing in the answer) is that a master key is a key intended for a set of locks, e.g. all locks in a specific building. This is usually used by someone with a high access to all premises. If a thief gets hand on one they'll access any room in the specific building (which helps in a theft for sure) but they need to steal the key (or obtain it some other way). A skeleton key is a key used to open a lock for which you don't have a valid key, i.e. to pick a lock. And that's what thieves do (and own).
â Ister
10 hours ago
1
1
@user240918 My mother tongue is German, and the German word "Dietrich" was the word that came into my mind immediately. A quick dictionary lookup showed "skeleton key", "picklock" and "lockpick". IMHO, "passe-partout" is more common for the wide border between a picture and its frame.
â rexkogitans
7 hours ago
@user240918 My mother tongue is German, and the German word "Dietrich" was the word that came into my mind immediately. A quick dictionary lookup showed "skeleton key", "picklock" and "lockpick". IMHO, "passe-partout" is more common for the wide border between a picture and its frame.
â rexkogitans
7 hours ago
 |Â
show 3 more comments
up vote
7
down vote
You could call it a master key
: a key designed to open several different locks
- Similarly, hotel rooms around the world are vulnerable to a hack that lets an intruder mimic a hotel's master key and open any door.
Brian Barrett, WIRED, "Security News This Week: The Biggest DDoS For Hire Site Goes Down," 28 Apr. 2018
or a skeleton key
a key that will open several doors
Thieves may have used 'skeleton key' in Wigan break-ins
5
Perhaps worth noting that a skeleton key is a specific subtype of master keyâÂÂa key with elements filed down to bypass the parts of a (poorly designed) lock that actually do the locking, instead operating the actuator directly. It is possible to create a master key for a set of properly designed locks without any of them being vulnerable to a skeleton key.
â Anko
11 hours ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
7
down vote
You could call it a master key
: a key designed to open several different locks
- Similarly, hotel rooms around the world are vulnerable to a hack that lets an intruder mimic a hotel's master key and open any door.
Brian Barrett, WIRED, "Security News This Week: The Biggest DDoS For Hire Site Goes Down," 28 Apr. 2018
or a skeleton key
a key that will open several doors
Thieves may have used 'skeleton key' in Wigan break-ins
5
Perhaps worth noting that a skeleton key is a specific subtype of master keyâÂÂa key with elements filed down to bypass the parts of a (poorly designed) lock that actually do the locking, instead operating the actuator directly. It is possible to create a master key for a set of properly designed locks without any of them being vulnerable to a skeleton key.
â Anko
11 hours ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
7
down vote
up vote
7
down vote
You could call it a master key
: a key designed to open several different locks
- Similarly, hotel rooms around the world are vulnerable to a hack that lets an intruder mimic a hotel's master key and open any door.
Brian Barrett, WIRED, "Security News This Week: The Biggest DDoS For Hire Site Goes Down," 28 Apr. 2018
or a skeleton key
a key that will open several doors
Thieves may have used 'skeleton key' in Wigan break-ins
You could call it a master key
: a key designed to open several different locks
- Similarly, hotel rooms around the world are vulnerable to a hack that lets an intruder mimic a hotel's master key and open any door.
Brian Barrett, WIRED, "Security News This Week: The Biggest DDoS For Hire Site Goes Down," 28 Apr. 2018
or a skeleton key
a key that will open several doors
Thieves may have used 'skeleton key' in Wigan break-ins
answered 11 hours ago
bookmanu
4,3271133
4,3271133
5
Perhaps worth noting that a skeleton key is a specific subtype of master keyâÂÂa key with elements filed down to bypass the parts of a (poorly designed) lock that actually do the locking, instead operating the actuator directly. It is possible to create a master key for a set of properly designed locks without any of them being vulnerable to a skeleton key.
â Anko
11 hours ago
add a comment |Â
5
Perhaps worth noting that a skeleton key is a specific subtype of master keyâÂÂa key with elements filed down to bypass the parts of a (poorly designed) lock that actually do the locking, instead operating the actuator directly. It is possible to create a master key for a set of properly designed locks without any of them being vulnerable to a skeleton key.
â Anko
11 hours ago
5
5
Perhaps worth noting that a skeleton key is a specific subtype of master keyâÂÂa key with elements filed down to bypass the parts of a (poorly designed) lock that actually do the locking, instead operating the actuator directly. It is possible to create a master key for a set of properly designed locks without any of them being vulnerable to a skeleton key.
â Anko
11 hours ago
Perhaps worth noting that a skeleton key is a specific subtype of master keyâÂÂa key with elements filed down to bypass the parts of a (poorly designed) lock that actually do the locking, instead operating the actuator directly. It is possible to create a master key for a set of properly designed locks without any of them being vulnerable to a skeleton key.
â Anko
11 hours ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
4
down vote
What about a master key
master key (noun)
- a key that opens several locks, each of which also has its own key.
New contributor
Eugene is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
1
Oldest correct answer!
â Pedro Lobito
10 hours ago
1
This not the correct answer. A master key is custom made to order for a specific set of locks. If a thief has it or the ring of keys that also open the specific set of locks, they only have access to those specific locks.
â James Jenkins
6 hours ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
4
down vote
What about a master key
master key (noun)
- a key that opens several locks, each of which also has its own key.
New contributor
Eugene is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
1
Oldest correct answer!
â Pedro Lobito
10 hours ago
1
This not the correct answer. A master key is custom made to order for a specific set of locks. If a thief has it or the ring of keys that also open the specific set of locks, they only have access to those specific locks.
â James Jenkins
6 hours ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
4
down vote
up vote
4
down vote
What about a master key
master key (noun)
- a key that opens several locks, each of which also has its own key.
New contributor
Eugene is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
What about a master key
master key (noun)
- a key that opens several locks, each of which also has its own key.
New contributor
Eugene is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
Eugene is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
answered 11 hours ago
Eugene
754
754
New contributor
Eugene is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
Eugene is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Eugene is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
1
Oldest correct answer!
â Pedro Lobito
10 hours ago
1
This not the correct answer. A master key is custom made to order for a specific set of locks. If a thief has it or the ring of keys that also open the specific set of locks, they only have access to those specific locks.
â James Jenkins
6 hours ago
add a comment |Â
1
Oldest correct answer!
â Pedro Lobito
10 hours ago
1
This not the correct answer. A master key is custom made to order for a specific set of locks. If a thief has it or the ring of keys that also open the specific set of locks, they only have access to those specific locks.
â James Jenkins
6 hours ago
1
1
Oldest correct answer!
â Pedro Lobito
10 hours ago
Oldest correct answer!
â Pedro Lobito
10 hours ago
1
1
This not the correct answer. A master key is custom made to order for a specific set of locks. If a thief has it or the ring of keys that also open the specific set of locks, they only have access to those specific locks.
â James Jenkins
6 hours ago
This not the correct answer. A master key is custom made to order for a specific set of locks. If a thief has it or the ring of keys that also open the specific set of locks, they only have access to those specific locks.
â James Jenkins
6 hours ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
4
down vote
In terms of what modern thieves are likely to actually use, consider bump key.
Bump keys are specific to a lock type, effectively single use and they require considerable force to work. They are quite inelegant, although very effective and extremely fast to operate - they work in seconds.
Lock bumping is a lock picking technique for opening a pin tumbler lock using a specially crafted bump key, rapping key or a
999 key.
...
Lock bumping is a trend in burglaries, which can make it easy and fast
to break into homes without needing too much special equipment or
leaving any trace of forced entry. It works almost as well as actually
having a key, and a set of ten rapping keys can make the criminals
capable of opening 90% of common tumbler locks. However, criminals
might choose to avoid lock bumping when stealth is required, because
of the noisiness of the process. Almost all tumbler locks are
vulnerable to bumping.
(However, I think you have already got an equivalent expression to your thief's key in skeleton key, which is dated enough to have charm, is a word children would know, and also has a hint of the sinister about it.)
Any of the better in-patent locks (Primus, Medeco etc.) will be resistant to bumping because they use really weird keyways that have additional keying in the keyway that won't bump. Only the mfgr. Can make the odd keyway features and only your locksmith can obtain them. They cost about $70 per tumbler set and $13 per key, and they go in higher quality knobsets that cost a fortune (by big-box store residential standards). Would I use one on my house? You bet your bippy.
â Harper
2 hours ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
4
down vote
In terms of what modern thieves are likely to actually use, consider bump key.
Bump keys are specific to a lock type, effectively single use and they require considerable force to work. They are quite inelegant, although very effective and extremely fast to operate - they work in seconds.
Lock bumping is a lock picking technique for opening a pin tumbler lock using a specially crafted bump key, rapping key or a
999 key.
...
Lock bumping is a trend in burglaries, which can make it easy and fast
to break into homes without needing too much special equipment or
leaving any trace of forced entry. It works almost as well as actually
having a key, and a set of ten rapping keys can make the criminals
capable of opening 90% of common tumbler locks. However, criminals
might choose to avoid lock bumping when stealth is required, because
of the noisiness of the process. Almost all tumbler locks are
vulnerable to bumping.
(However, I think you have already got an equivalent expression to your thief's key in skeleton key, which is dated enough to have charm, is a word children would know, and also has a hint of the sinister about it.)
Any of the better in-patent locks (Primus, Medeco etc.) will be resistant to bumping because they use really weird keyways that have additional keying in the keyway that won't bump. Only the mfgr. Can make the odd keyway features and only your locksmith can obtain them. They cost about $70 per tumbler set and $13 per key, and they go in higher quality knobsets that cost a fortune (by big-box store residential standards). Would I use one on my house? You bet your bippy.
â Harper
2 hours ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
4
down vote
up vote
4
down vote
In terms of what modern thieves are likely to actually use, consider bump key.
Bump keys are specific to a lock type, effectively single use and they require considerable force to work. They are quite inelegant, although very effective and extremely fast to operate - they work in seconds.
Lock bumping is a lock picking technique for opening a pin tumbler lock using a specially crafted bump key, rapping key or a
999 key.
...
Lock bumping is a trend in burglaries, which can make it easy and fast
to break into homes without needing too much special equipment or
leaving any trace of forced entry. It works almost as well as actually
having a key, and a set of ten rapping keys can make the criminals
capable of opening 90% of common tumbler locks. However, criminals
might choose to avoid lock bumping when stealth is required, because
of the noisiness of the process. Almost all tumbler locks are
vulnerable to bumping.
(However, I think you have already got an equivalent expression to your thief's key in skeleton key, which is dated enough to have charm, is a word children would know, and also has a hint of the sinister about it.)
In terms of what modern thieves are likely to actually use, consider bump key.
Bump keys are specific to a lock type, effectively single use and they require considerable force to work. They are quite inelegant, although very effective and extremely fast to operate - they work in seconds.
Lock bumping is a lock picking technique for opening a pin tumbler lock using a specially crafted bump key, rapping key or a
999 key.
...
Lock bumping is a trend in burglaries, which can make it easy and fast
to break into homes without needing too much special equipment or
leaving any trace of forced entry. It works almost as well as actually
having a key, and a set of ten rapping keys can make the criminals
capable of opening 90% of common tumbler locks. However, criminals
might choose to avoid lock bumping when stealth is required, because
of the noisiness of the process. Almost all tumbler locks are
vulnerable to bumping.
(However, I think you have already got an equivalent expression to your thief's key in skeleton key, which is dated enough to have charm, is a word children would know, and also has a hint of the sinister about it.)
answered 7 hours ago
tmgr
1,325614
1,325614
Any of the better in-patent locks (Primus, Medeco etc.) will be resistant to bumping because they use really weird keyways that have additional keying in the keyway that won't bump. Only the mfgr. Can make the odd keyway features and only your locksmith can obtain them. They cost about $70 per tumbler set and $13 per key, and they go in higher quality knobsets that cost a fortune (by big-box store residential standards). Would I use one on my house? You bet your bippy.
â Harper
2 hours ago
add a comment |Â
Any of the better in-patent locks (Primus, Medeco etc.) will be resistant to bumping because they use really weird keyways that have additional keying in the keyway that won't bump. Only the mfgr. Can make the odd keyway features and only your locksmith can obtain them. They cost about $70 per tumbler set and $13 per key, and they go in higher quality knobsets that cost a fortune (by big-box store residential standards). Would I use one on my house? You bet your bippy.
â Harper
2 hours ago
Any of the better in-patent locks (Primus, Medeco etc.) will be resistant to bumping because they use really weird keyways that have additional keying in the keyway that won't bump. Only the mfgr. Can make the odd keyway features and only your locksmith can obtain them. They cost about $70 per tumbler set and $13 per key, and they go in higher quality knobsets that cost a fortune (by big-box store residential standards). Would I use one on my house? You bet your bippy.
â Harper
2 hours ago
Any of the better in-patent locks (Primus, Medeco etc.) will be resistant to bumping because they use really weird keyways that have additional keying in the keyway that won't bump. Only the mfgr. Can make the odd keyway features and only your locksmith can obtain them. They cost about $70 per tumbler set and $13 per key, and they go in higher quality knobsets that cost a fortune (by big-box store residential standards). Would I use one on my house? You bet your bippy.
â Harper
2 hours ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
4
down vote
If we get away from the practicalities of whether such keys exist in reality and look at keys which do exist in fairy-tales and other fiction, we find a clear distinction between a master key which is made with good intent, and only available to the thief by theft, deception etc., and a skeleton key which is made with evil intent. Supernatural forces are often used, either to actually make the key or to find out how to. A third method is to take an ordinary key and cast a spell on it. Whatever method you use the principle is that a skeleton key is the most widely understood term for a universal key made with evil intent and found in stories.
add a comment |Â
up vote
4
down vote
If we get away from the practicalities of whether such keys exist in reality and look at keys which do exist in fairy-tales and other fiction, we find a clear distinction between a master key which is made with good intent, and only available to the thief by theft, deception etc., and a skeleton key which is made with evil intent. Supernatural forces are often used, either to actually make the key or to find out how to. A third method is to take an ordinary key and cast a spell on it. Whatever method you use the principle is that a skeleton key is the most widely understood term for a universal key made with evil intent and found in stories.
add a comment |Â
up vote
4
down vote
up vote
4
down vote
If we get away from the practicalities of whether such keys exist in reality and look at keys which do exist in fairy-tales and other fiction, we find a clear distinction between a master key which is made with good intent, and only available to the thief by theft, deception etc., and a skeleton key which is made with evil intent. Supernatural forces are often used, either to actually make the key or to find out how to. A third method is to take an ordinary key and cast a spell on it. Whatever method you use the principle is that a skeleton key is the most widely understood term for a universal key made with evil intent and found in stories.
If we get away from the practicalities of whether such keys exist in reality and look at keys which do exist in fairy-tales and other fiction, we find a clear distinction between a master key which is made with good intent, and only available to the thief by theft, deception etc., and a skeleton key which is made with evil intent. Supernatural forces are often used, either to actually make the key or to find out how to. A third method is to take an ordinary key and cast a spell on it. Whatever method you use the principle is that a skeleton key is the most widely understood term for a universal key made with evil intent and found in stories.
answered 7 hours ago
David Robinson
37818
37818
add a comment |Â
add a comment |Â
up vote
2
down vote
Other answers have suggested this, but to make it clearer, no such key exists. A master key can open many locks, but not all. And even when there were skeleton keys in common use, there were also locks of other types, just as today there are tumbler locks with flat keys to lift pins, flat keys where the pins fit in holes on the flat side, and tubular keys (and several other types).
add a comment |Â
up vote
2
down vote
Other answers have suggested this, but to make it clearer, no such key exists. A master key can open many locks, but not all. And even when there were skeleton keys in common use, there were also locks of other types, just as today there are tumbler locks with flat keys to lift pins, flat keys where the pins fit in holes on the flat side, and tubular keys (and several other types).
add a comment |Â
up vote
2
down vote
up vote
2
down vote
Other answers have suggested this, but to make it clearer, no such key exists. A master key can open many locks, but not all. And even when there were skeleton keys in common use, there were also locks of other types, just as today there are tumbler locks with flat keys to lift pins, flat keys where the pins fit in holes on the flat side, and tubular keys (and several other types).
Other answers have suggested this, but to make it clearer, no such key exists. A master key can open many locks, but not all. And even when there were skeleton keys in common use, there were also locks of other types, just as today there are tumbler locks with flat keys to lift pins, flat keys where the pins fit in holes on the flat side, and tubular keys (and several other types).
answered 6 hours ago
WGroleau
1195
1195
add a comment |Â
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
Perhaps, people might consider it a pass key.
pass key noun
a key to the door of a
restricted area, given
only to those who are
officially allowed access.
a master key.
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
Perhaps, people might consider it a pass key.
pass key noun
a key to the door of a
restricted area, given
only to those who are
officially allowed access.
a master key.
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
up vote
1
down vote
Perhaps, people might consider it a pass key.
pass key noun
a key to the door of a
restricted area, given
only to those who are
officially allowed access.
a master key.
Perhaps, people might consider it a pass key.
pass key noun
a key to the door of a
restricted area, given
only to those who are
officially allowed access.
a master key.
answered 11 hours ago
James Wolpert
3512
3512
add a comment |Â
add a comment |Â
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3
It's a hypothetical key. And the use of the term is mere metaphorical. There may be no direct equivalent in other languages.
â Kris
11 hours ago
1
Positive or negative connotation depends on context: Thieves use master key to get into buildings, steal mail in San Francisco abc7news.com/news/thieves-use-master-key-to-steal-mail-in-sf/â¦
â user240918
11 hours ago
5
@user240918 They must have stolen the master key first to do that.
â Kris
11 hours ago
1
For the old style locks, 50-100 years ago, it was generally called a "skeleton key" in the US. But these don't work on modern cylinder locks -- must obtain the specific "master key" (if there is one), or simply "pick the lock" with a "lock pick".
â Hot Licks
11 hours ago
1
@Janus, Alohomora is from West African Sidiki dialect, and it is worth noting here that it denotes anything friendly to thieves. But doesn't specify that it's a key.
â Ahmed
7 hours ago