Bow, shank and bit - what are they?
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (381740)
Rockingham, Australia
August 29, 2025 1:12am CST
I learnt the parts of a key last night from Antiques Roadshow. By key, I mean house or shed key. You’d think a key would be a key but each part has a name. And you’d think a shoe-lace would be a shoe-lace but the tiny pieces on each end are called ‘aglets’. I remember being quite impressed when I learnt that.
So the piece of a key that you hold is called the ‘bow’, the piece you insert into the lock is called the ‘bit’ and the part between the two is called the ‘shank’. I wonder how long I’ll be able to remember these words.
The photo is of a complicated security assembly on a chest which was on display in Melk Abbey in Austria. The caption reads: Treasure Chest. In cases of acute danger the most important treasures of the monastery were brought to safe places. For example, in 1683 they were protected from the Turks in St. Peter in Salzburg. Chests like this one were constructed for this purpose.’
13 people like this
13 responses
@DaddyEvil (174208)
• United States
29 Aug
It seems some people have entirely too much time on their hands if they feel the need to name individual parts of a key or a shoelace. 
2 people like this
@DaddyEvil (174208)
• United States
29 Aug
@JudyEv I learned about aglets from a crossword puzzle I was doing in the 6th grade. I kept giggling about it until the teacher asked what I was laughing about so I explained it to her. She thought people had too much time on their hands, too. (I believe she meant me but she pointed at the puzzle book. It was recess time so I know she couldn't have been referring to me, personally. 
)
I learned about aglets from a crossword puzzle I was doing in the 6th grade. I kept giggling about it until the teacher asked what I was laughing about so I explained it to her. She thought people had too much time on their hands, too. (I believe she meant me but she pointed at the puzzle book. It was recess time so I know she couldn't have been referring to me, personally. )2 people like this
@allknowing (153544)
• India
30 Aug
I will from now on use the word bow instead of key.
Learnt something new today
2 people like this
@Deepizzaguy (122067)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
30 Aug
I learned a lot about the keys from the past on this post.
2 people like this
@LindaOHio (222222)
• United States
29 Aug
At first I thought we would be learning about equine terms. lol Thank you for the education.
2 people like this
@snowy22315 (208746)
• United States
29 Aug
You know what? I thought they were knots!
2 people like this
@luisadannointed (11842)
• Philippines
29 Aug
You always post an info-blog-post, I think this is so interesting.
2 people like this
@Tampa_girl7 (54714)
• United States
30 Aug
@JudyEv I love old keys. My daddy had a good many of really nifty looking ones.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (381740)
• Rockingham, Australia
30 Aug
Every profession/trade has its own set of words, doesn't it? Almost like a complete language. I'm thinking of architecture for starters but the printing trade, photography, they'd all have their own terms for different processes or parts of things.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (381740)
• Rockingham, Australia
31 Aug
@Tampa_girl7 There were some really interesting keys on the Antiques Roadshow which was where they mentioned the parts of the key.
@wolfgirl569 (135583)
• Marion, Ohio
29 Aug
I thought of bridle parts reading your title
2 people like this
@wolfgirl569 (135583)
• Marion, Ohio
30 Aug
@JudyEv do still have a brat out there so that could be part of it
2 people like this
@arunima25 (93194)
• Bangalore, India
29 Aug
Sometimes back, my younger daughter told me about 'aglets'. I have not used it yet. These parts names of a key is very interesting. I am going to tell her today. One thing she is obsessed with ( a thing of her autism) is learning these unusual things and words.
. These parts names of a key is very interesting. I am going to tell her today. One thing she is obsessed with ( a thing of her autism) is learning these unusual things and words.2 people like this
@arunima25 (93194)
• Bangalore, India
30 Aug
@JudyEv And such a small key will have three different parts and names . These are interesting to know 
. These are interesting to know 1 person likes this
