key ringn.
/ˈkiː rɪŋ/, U.S. /ˈki ˌrɪŋ/ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > equipment > building and constructing equipment > fastenings > [noun] > hoop or ring > as a clip
key ring1682
circlip1903
1682 A. Martindale Countrey-surv.-bk. viii. 52 Two half Chains may in measuring large Fields be..joyned by a buttoning Key-ring.
2. A metal ring on to which keys may be threaded in order to keep them together, now typically with a tag or fob attached for identification or ornamentation.In later use also with modifying word describing the tag or fob attached to the ring.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > equipment > building and constructing equipment > fastenings > [noun] > key > devices to prevent loss of keys
key band1446
key-clogc1450
key chain1652
key ring1743
keyholder1837
1743 Daily Advertiser 27 May An old black Shagreen Watch..with a Cornelian Seal..fix'd to the Watch with a common Steel Key-Ring.
1766 Gazetteer & New Daily Advertiser 23 June (advt.) Selling at prime cost..ink-pots, key rings, paper and japan'd snuff-boxes, [etc.].
1835 Times 10 Sept. A bunch of keys, with the name ‘Raper’ on the key-ring.
1874 Sutton's Leisure Hour Misc. 202/3 Receive the sincere thanks of yours truly, together with these fish-hooks, these ten-penny nails, this key-ring.
1906 E. Nesbit Story of Amulet xi. 261 Jane added a key-ring.
1947 M. R. Davie Refugees in Amer. xiv. 247 Novelties and toys—Miniature auto license plates for key rings [etc.].
1995 Sugar Apr. 4/3 (caption) Snap up one of these fab Power Ranger key-rings.
2002 E. Barr Baggage xiv. 137 ‘Room fifty-four,’ she announces, handing us a key on a huge wooden keyring.
3. Chiefly Roman History. A ring worn on the finger or (sometimes) a chain, incorporating a small key which is either fixed in place or can be moved on a hinge.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > beautification > types of ornamentation > jewellery > ring > [noun] > other types of ring
kine-ringc1225
pontificala1500
hoop-ring1545
death's head1577
ring of remembrance1659
serjeant's ring1690
garter-ring1709
bath-ring1771
solitaire1832
regard ring1853
key ring1856
bodylet1870
portrait ring1877
tower-ring1877
whistle-ring1877
marquise1885
princess-ring1886
dinner ring1890
cluster ring1897
eternity ring1939
1856 Archaeol. Jrnl. 13 413 Drawing of a bronze finger-ring to which a key is attached, so as to lie flat on the finger... A similar key-ring is in Mr. Neville's collection.
1880 W. Smith & S. Cheetham Dict. Christian Antiq. II. 1803/1 Gregory the Great..gave golden key-rings of this kind, which had touched the body of St. Peter.
1907 F. H. Marshall Catal. Finger Rings p. xviii The Etruscan lady named Seianti Thanunia is apparently wearing a key-ring on the middle joint of the fourth finger of her left hand.
1940 K. M. Lester & B. V. Oerke Accessories of Dress xxvi. 332 The key ring which the Roman matron so proudly wore symbolized..her authority to carry the keys of the house.
2007 R. W. Hesse Jewelrymaking through Hist. 166 A third important ring of the Roman empire was the key ring, sometimes worn on a chain, but often worn on the finger.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2012; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1682