roughlockv.
/ˈrʌflɒk/, U.S. /ˈrəfˌlɑk/ U.S. regional (chiefly western).
transitive. To slow a vehicle by means of a rough lock.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > transport > transport or conveyance in a vehicle > driving or operating a vehicle > drive a vehicle [verb (transitive)] > drive a wheeled vehicle > apply brake to wheel
trig1591
notch1674
skid1674
roughlock1828
drag1829
spoke1854
brake1868
1828 E. King in Acts State of Ohio XXVI. 42 If any person shall fast lock or rough lock either of the wheels of his wagon, coach, chaise, gig, sulky, carriage or other two or four wheeled vehicle,..every person..shall be fined.
1884 W. Shepherd Prairie Experiences 197 The hind wheels were rough-locked, that is, a large linked chain was tied round the rim of the wheel in such a way that the wheel rides upon the chain, which drags along and cuts into the ground.
1973 R. D. Symons Where Wagon Led i. viii. 128 The stout sleigh groaning in protest against the logging chain rough-locked around a hind runner.
1986 J. McPhee Rising from Plains 21 The driver roughlocked the back wheels and we started down.
Derivatives
ˈroughlocking n.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > transport > transport or conveyance in a vehicle > driving or operating a vehicle > [noun] > braking > specific method
trigging1668
roughlocking1859
1859 R. B. Marcy Prairie Traveler iii. 93 Rough-locking is a very safe method of passing heavy artillery down abrupt declivities.
1910 H. Frost Art of Roadmaking ii. ix. 193 Such a road is not seriously damaged by rain and melting snows, which work much injury on steeper grades; damage from rough locking is enormously reduced.
2005 M. T. Madden Great Snow 239 A sudden drop into Beaver Canyon required a ‘doublehook’ to make the upgrade and ‘roughlocking’ in the descent.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2011; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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