hasp

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

A hasp, latch, clasp, and bolt are all used to keep something closed, but they work in different ways. A hasp is a slotted metal plate that fits over a fixed staple and is secured with a separate padlock — it is the only one of the four that cannot fasten on its own. A latch is a self-contained mechanism that clicks into place when you push a door or gate shut; you lift or turn it to open. A clasp is much smaller and appears on handbags, necklaces, or bracelets — it hooks or snaps together with two interlocking parts. A bolt is a metal rod that slides sideways into a hole or socket in the door frame; like a latch, it works without a padlock, but it is typically stronger. For example, you might say 'Padma hooked the clasp on her necklace' but 'Padma slid the heavy hasp over the staple on the barn door.'

Common collocations

Etymology

Hasp comes from Old English hæsp, meaning a fastening or a clasp. It traces back through Proto-Germanic *haspijō to a root meaning 'to grip or hold.' The word has kept its basic meaning — a metal device for securing something shut — for over a thousand years, though modern hasps are almost always used with padlocks.