Key
Defined in 1 dictionary — Bouvier (1839)
A Law Dictionary, Adapted to the Constitution and Laws of the United States
John Bouvier · 1839
An instrument made for opening a lock. The keys of a house. are considered as real estate, and descend to the heir with the inheritance. When the keys of a warehouse are delivered to a purchaser of goods locked up there, with a view of effecting a delivery of such goods, the delivery is complete. The doctrine of the civil law is the same. Dig. lib. 41, t. 1,1. 9, § 6; and lib. 18,t. 1, }. 74.