unkeyv.
/(ˌ)ʌnˈkiː/, U.S. /ˌənˈki/ 1. transitive. To remove the keystone from (an arch, etc.). Also in extended use. Cf. key v. 5. Now rare.
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the world > existence and causation > creation > destruction > breaking or cracking > break [verb (transitive)] > break down, demolish, or ruin > remove part of a bridge
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1679 Acct. in 13th Vol. Wren Soc. (1936) 115 Putting up Shoars under the Arches of the Windows..till the Laborers had unkey'd them.
1751 C. Labelye Descr. Westm. Bridge 22 Upon unkeying any one of the Arches the whole Bridge would fall.
1827 R. Emmons Fredoniad III. xxx. 286 Unkey the arch of heaven with thunder noise!
1880 Glasgow Herald 15 Apr. The explosion tore up a portion of the chancel flooring..and unkeyed an arch.
1933 Eng. Rev. Dec. p. v The falling pebble unkeys the avalanche.
1979 R. J. B. Walker Old Westm. Bridge xiii. 199 The secondary Purbeck arches had already been taken down..but the Portland arches do not appear to have been unkeyed.
2. transitive. To unfasten by removing a pin, wedge, bolt, etc. Cf. key v. 2a. Now rare.
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the world > relative properties > wholeness > mutual relation of parts to whole > separation > separation or detachment > loosening or unfastening > loosen, unfasten, or untie [verb (transitive)] > undo specific fastening
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disbutton1887
uncinch1891
disimpale1904
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the world > relative properties > wholeness > mutual relation of parts to whole > separation > separation or detachment > loosening or unfastening > loosen, unfasten, or untie [verb (transitive)] > and release > by specific means
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1802 Count Rumford Ess., Polit., Econ., & Philos. (new ed.) III. v. 149 They [sc. blow-pipes] may at any time be removed with little trouble, by unkeying them, and removing a few bricks.
1828 J. M. Spearman Brit. Gunner 183 [No. 3] keys and unkeys the left hand cap-square of the gun-carriage.
1859 F. A. Griffiths Artillerist's Man. (ed. 8) 179 No. 1 attends to the pawls and commands, keys, and unkeys keep chain.
1901 Daily Railway Age 21 June 85/1 The piston of the solid type..must be unkeyed from the cross-head and removed whenever necessary to change rings.
1988 D. McConnell Brit. Smooth-bore Artillery 264 When the gin was taken down and one end of the bar unkeyed it could swing and be keyed in place on the cheek.
3. transitive. To set (a transmitter, microphone, etc.) to stop transmitting. Cf. key v. 8b.
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1949 G-R-S Carrier Control (General Railway Signal Company Handbk. No. 34) 20 It is necessary to unkey or turn off the transmitters not involved when making a measurement of the line voltage at the output of the transmitter.
1986 Motor Boat & Sailing Jan. 192/3 This is the only time I've ever heard a Coast Guard radio operator break out laughing before unkeying his mike.
2010 A. W. Touchette Parole at Camp Summerset x. 101 John yelled out before Steve could unkey the mike, ‘I hope you don't catch them!’.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2018; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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