Glossary

Active Door
The primary door in a pair of doors and typically has an operable handle set. [Category: Door
Terminology]
American/U.S. Cylinders
Refers to the type of cylinder used with several types of multi-point lock sets. These
cylinders are attached to the escutcheon and do not vary in length, but the tailpiece length
varies according to door thickness. [Category: Lock Mechanisms Terminology]
Backset
In the U.S. there are two common backsets for residential locks, 2-3/8" and 2-3/4". The backset is the
distance from the edge of the door to the center of the 2-1/8" bore hole. We will pack your locks with
a 2-3/8" or 2-3/4" latch depending on which backset you specify. Dummy sets have no latch and are
surface mounted so you can install a dummy set wherever you choose on the door. [View Backset
Diagram] [Category: Door Terminology]
Butt Hinges
Hinges with one leaf mortised to the jamb and one leaf mortised to the edge of the door. [Category:
Hinges Terminology]
Cabinet Roses
The back plate behind a cabinet knob or pull. [Category: Cabinet Terminology]
Center To Center
Tubular Locks require a cut-out in the door as shown. Many doors are factory prepared like this.
Typically the center-to-center spacing between the cut-outs is 5-1/2 inches. If this is your case, then
most tubular entry locks should fit your door. If you have a different dimension, then a sectional lock
may be used. Always verify the center-to center spacing of the lock before ordering. [View Center To
Center Diagram] [Category: Door Terminology]
Clavos
Decorative nails typically applied to the surface of a door. [Category: Door Terminology]
Cylinders
A portion of a lock where the key is inserted to lock or unlock the set. There are several different kinds
common to different hardware sets. [Category: Lock Mechanisms Terminology]
Dead Bolt
A locking mechanism that is separate from the latching mechanism in a door set. A dead
bolt can be locked by a key or a turn piece. [Category: Lock Mechanisms Terminology]
Door Thickness
All door hardware fits doors between 1 3/8" to 1 3/4" thick. If your door is thicker, you will need to
specify its thickness. [Category: Door Terminology]
Dummy - Full
This is a set with inoperable handles on both sides of the door (typically used in conjunction with roller
catches, flush bolts or surface bolts). [Category: Lock Terminology, General]
Dummy - Single
This is a set with an inoperable handle on one side of the door (typically used in conjunction with roller
catches, flush bolts or surface bolts). [Category: Lock Terminology, General]
Edge Pulls
Used to retrieve a pocket door from the pocket. [Category: Lock Mechanisms Terminology]
Emergency Release
This term refers to the capability of a lock to be unlocked from the exterior side in case of an
emergency situation. This is an aspect of most interior privacy lock sets. Most hardware provides an
emergency release key with privacy lock sets. [Category: Lock Mechanisms Terminology]
Entry (Double Cylinder)
This is a locking set with operable handles that has a keyed cylinder on both sides of the door
(typically used on primary exterior doors). [Category: Lock Terminology, General]
Entry (Single Cylinder)
This is a locking set with operable handles that has a keyed cylinder on the exterior side of the door
and a turn piece on the interior side (typically used on primary exterior doors). [Category: Lock
Terminology, General]
Escutcheon
Back plate that attaches to the door. [View Trim Diagram] [Category: Lock Trim Terminology]
Eurpoean Profile Cylinders
The other type of cylinder used with multi-point lock sets. These cylinders slip through the
exterior escutcheon, the door and the interior escutcheon and are held in place by a set
screw through the edge of the lock and vary in length for different door thicknesses.
[Category: Lock Mechanisms Terminology]
Flush Pulls
Recessed pulls used on sliding doors such as pocket or bypass doors. [Category: Lock Mechanisms
Terminology]
Handing
Indicates where the door is hinged and the direction it swings. Please see the chart. [View Door
Handing Chart] [Category: Lock Mechanisms Terminology]

Handing Example
Handle
The portion of the set you grab to pull or rotate. The handle options are grips, levers, knobs or ring
pulls. [View Trim Diagram] [Category: Lock Trim Terminology]
Inactive Door
The secondary door in a pair of doors. The inactive door is often secured with flush or surface bolts
and typically has inoperable handles. [Category: Door Terminology]
Living Finish
A "living finish" means that the hardware is not coated, and the finish may change and darken due to
oxidation and wear, much as a copper penny will darken and change over time. [Category:
Miscellaneous Terminology]
Mortise Bolt
A locking mechanism that is separate from the latching mechanism and is operated by a
turn piece. It is commonly used for interior applications to provide privacy on bedroom and
bathroom doors. [Category: Lock Mechanisms Terminology]
Mortise Cylinders
Mechanisms that are threaded into mortise locks, secured by a set screw through the edge
of the lock and vary in length for different door thicknesses. [Category: Lock Mechanisms
Terminology]
Mortise Lock
This mechanism integrates the locking and latching mechanisms into a single cartridge style
lock. The mortise lock is available in a variety of functions such as entry, patio, privacy and
passage. [Category: Lock Mechanisms Terminology]
Multi-Point Lock Mechanisms
Mechanisms that latch the door at several points along the length of the door instead of a single point
in close proximity to the handle. Multi-point locks are provided with French doors made by most of the
major window manufacturers. Due to the variety of multi-point sets available, we recommend that a
copy or photo of the existing lock trim or a factory drawing be sent to us so our trim can be machined
correctly to match the lock in the door. [Category: Lock Mechanisms Terminology]
Ornamental Hinge Strap
A decorative piece of metal applied to the surface of a door to mimic a strap hinge. [Category: Hinges
Terminology]
Passage
This is a non-locking set with operable handles (typically used on doors that do not require security or
privacy such as closets, laundry or utility rooms, pantry, mechanical rooms and so on). [Category:
Lock Terminology, General]
Patio
This is a lock set with operable handles that is locked by a turn piece from the interior side, but has no
keyed access from the exterior (typically used on secondary exterior doors). [Category: Lock
Terminology, General]
Privacy (Mortise Bolt or Mortise Lock)
This is a locking set with operable handles that is locked by a turn piece from the interior side and can
be unlocked by an emergency release key from the exterior side (typically used on bedroom and
bathroom doors). [Category: Lock Terminology, General]
Privacy (Spring Latch)
This is a locking set with operable handles that is locked by a push button on the escutcheon from the
interior side of the door and can be unlocked by an emergency release key from the exterior side
(typically used on bedroom and bathroom doors). [Category: Lock Terminology, General]
Push/Pull
This is a set with inoperable grip handles and/or escutcheons. The set can have locking capacity in
single cylinder, double cylinder or patio applications and is available in full or single dummy as well
(typically used for commercial applications). [Category: Lock Terminology, General]
Rim Cylinders
Mechanisms used in dead bolts that are mounted with screws from the opposite side of the
door. They do not vary in length, but the mounting screw and tailpiece lengths vary
according to door thickness. [Category: Lock Mechanisms Terminology]
Spring Latch
A latching mechanism operated by the handles. [Category: Lock Mechanisms Terminology]
Strap Hinges
Hinges that have one leaf applied to the surface of the jamb and one leaf attached to the surface of
the door. [Category: Hinges Terminology]
Swing Cover
The flap that covers the cylinder or the emergency release access. [View Trim Diagram] [Category:
Lock Trim Terminology]
Thumb Piece
This piece retracts the latch bolt on a thumb latch entry lock set. [View Trim Diagram] [Category: Lock
Trim Terminology]
Turn Piece
This piece operates the dead bolt on the interior side of a locking set. [View Trim Diagram] [Category:
Lock Trim Terminology]

Note: This glossary of terms is provided to the consumer as a service, is provided as-is, and is subject to change. Terms here are provided by LocksUSA.com and are in no way complete or definitive. Please verify all terms with your salesperson, locksmith, or contractor.