A key used to draw back the night-latch of a door.
1839. Dickens, Nich. Nick., xvi. Here, at all hours of the night, may be heard the rattling of latch-keys in their respective keyholes.
1856. Mrs. Carlyle, Lett., II. 270. He opened the door with his latch-key.
attrib. 1892. Zangwill, Bow Mystery, 37. The front door … is guarded by the latchkey lock and the big lock.
