WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025
ˈskel•e•ton ˌkey, n. [countable]
  1. Buildinga key with nearly the whole substance of the bit filed away so that it opens various simple locks.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025
skel′eton key′, 
  1. Buildinga key with nearly the whole substance of the bit filed away so that it may open various locks. Also called passkey. 
  • 1800–10

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
skeleton key
  1. a key with the serrated edge filed down so that it can open numerous locks
    Also called: passkey
Etymology: 19th Century: so called because it has been reduced to its essential parts
'skeleton key' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
passe-partout - passkey

Forum discussions with the word(s) "skeleton key" in the title:


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