Why a Pared-Down Key Is Called a Skeleton Key

Hello, you have A Way with Words.

Hi, this is Gene from Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin.

Hiya, Gene.

Hi.

What’s happening in Chippewa Falls?

Well, right now it’s gloomy and rainy and cold.

Ooh.

Oh, lovely Wisconsin. What’s on your mind, Gene?

I was wondering why the key for a bit lock is known as a skeleton key.

What’s a bit lock?

Bitlock is actually a privacy lock.

In older homes, every door has a bitlock on it.

The closet doors, the linen closets, the bedrooms, bathroom, everything.

And one key will fit every lock.

Are you a locksmith?

No.

But I went to a locksmith and asked her this question.

You did?

And she said, I don’t know.

She said, why don’t you call A Way with Words?

She did?

She did not know the answer to why it’s called a skeleton key.

Awesome.

Wow.

So this is just that pared-down key that looks pretty universal, kind of the classic key-looking key?

Yes.

Yes.

In fact, my dictionary, let me read the definition to you then.

Which dictionary?

It’s Random House, and it’s an old one.

It’s 40 years old.

It’s older than, well, not as old as I am.

But anyway, it said that it is pared down so that one key will fit many locks.

Right.

Right.

Sometimes it’s called a pass key, too.

Well, let’s talk about the word skeleton.

It comes from the Greek skeletos, which means dried up.

Isn’t that great?

Great.

Grant, I don’t know if you did this in elementary school,

But we used to always go around saying,

A skeleton is a person with the inside out and the outside off.

No.

Well, anyway, Gene, I think the idea with a skeleton key is pretty simple.

It’s just the key that’s paired down to its bare bones.

It’s like a skeleton crew, you know, at work when a bunch of people can’t go to work.

Now, I have a question for you, Gene.

Okay.

Do you think that your locksmith friend can teach us how to pick locks?

I’m sure she can.

Really?

Sure she can, yes.

You know, when I was in eighth grade,

Billy Kelly offered to teach me how to do that for $10,

And I, you know, I really wish I had taken him up on that.

Just $10.

I could have learned how to pick locks.

Yeah.

Well, Gene, I hope Martha has given you all the juice you need.

Did you get what you were after?

Yes, I did.

Thank you very much.

Super.

Thank you so much for calling, Gene,

And tell your locksmith friend that we said thank you for the referral.

I will tell Patty that.

Thank you.

All right.

Thanks.

Bye-bye.

The key to all knowledge is at 1-877-929-9673, or you can email us.

The address is words@waywordradio.org.