Clavis
noun ·Uncommon ·Advanced level
Definitions
- 1 A Roman key.
"Iron clavis, the solid web-shaped at the edges to fit the wards in the lock, and having a pointed broach and a kite-formed looped haft."
- 2 A device for restraint of the hands.
"His hands were restrained by means of a clavis and bolt (of iron), appropriated to each wrist, and united by a padlock."
- 3 Synonym of glossary: a key to the meaning of various terms.
"Homer, with a clavis, I have had possession of some years."
- 4 A key; an identification guide; a series of logically organized groups of discriminating information which aims to allow the user to correctly identify a taxon.
"There are many disadvantages in using a clavis intended for another country, which necessarily includes plants that are absent from our islands while it omits some that are present and neglects the peculiarities of our island flora."
Example
More examples"Iron clavis, the solid web-shaped at the edges to fit the wards in the lock, and having a pointed broach and a kite-formed looped haft."
Etymology
From Latin clāvis (“a key”). Doublet of clave and clef.
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Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.