Also 5–7 forlock. [f. FORE- pref. + LOCK sb.1]
† 1. a. ? Some piece of horse-harness. b. (See quot. 1889.) Obs.
1467. Mann. & Househ. Exp. (1841), 408. My mastyr paid for mendynge of a forlokke, j.d.
1889. Cent. Dict., Forelock.… In medieval armor, a clasp or catch serving to hold the helm, or in some cases the beaver or the mentonnière, to the gorgerin or breastplate in front.
2. A wedge (usually of iron) thrust through a hole in the end of a bolt in order to keep it in its place. Now chiefly Naut.
1514. Wigtoft Churthw. Acc. (1797), 209. For ye forlock to ye grete bell, 4d.
1534. Yatton Churchw. Acc. (Som. Rec. Soc.), 149. For folks, forlocks, pynnes to ye bales [bellows].
1613–39. I. Jones, in Leoni, trans. Palladio’s Archit. (1742), I. 103. The Bolts and Forelocks of Fir, that fasten the Timber.
1762. Falconer, Shipwr., II.
| Watching the roll, their forelocks they withdrew, | |
| And from their beds the reeling Cannon threw. |
1869. Sir E. J. Reed, Shipbuild., xvii. 140. The various parts of the work are fixed in position and temporarily secured, either by nut and screw bolts, or, as is far more commonly the case, by means of pins and cotters, or forelocks.
3. Comb.: forelock-bolt, -hook (see quots.).
1627. Capt. Smith, Seaman’s Gram., ii. 5. Fore locke bolts hath an eye at the end, whereinto a fore locke of iron is driuen to keepe it from starting backe.
1769. Falconer, Dict. Marine (1789), Cheville à goupilles, a forelock-bolt, or bolt fitted to receive a forelock.
1794. Rigging & Seamansh., 54. Fore-lock-hooks are made of iron, with a long neck and handle; they have an eye at the end of the neck for the fore-lock to go through, and are to hang the yarn on, to harden and close ropes, from two-inches and a quarter and upwards.
1874. Knight, Dict. Mech., I. 905/1. Forelock Hook. (Rope-making.) A winch or whirl in the tackle-block by which a bunch of three yarns is twisted into a strand.
