Locksmith glossary

When a locksmith talks to you about the cam, the plug, the strike plate or a double clutch cylinder, it is normal to be none the wiser. In this glossary we explain those words simply, so that you understand what you have on your door and what you are being offered.

How it is organised

The terms are grouped by topic: locks, cylinders, keys, doors and fittings, shutters, roller shutters, grilles, attacks and protection, opening techniques, tools, standards and security grades, and the legal and insurance side. Each term has its own page with a short definition, a slightly longer explanation and links to related terms.

How it helps you

Knowing what an anti-bump cylinder or a lever lock is helps you compare quotes, understand why one door is weaker than another and avoid paying for something you do not need. It is also useful when the insurance company asks you for details of the lock after a burglary.

If a word rings a bell from a conversation with a locksmith, or you have read it on a cylinder box, look it up here. And if you then want to know what suits you, each term links to the service where it applies, such as lock cylinder replacement.

If you cannot find the term

Ask us on WhatsApp. If it is a question that keeps coming up, we will bear it in mind for the glossary.