Locksmith
/ˈlɒk.smɪθ/noun
A person who makes, repairs, or opens locks.
Did you know?The second half of the word is the same Old English smith used for metalworkers, from a root tied to striking and shaping metal, so a locksmith was originally a craftsman of controlled force.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*smei-
“to strike, cut, or split”
Old English
OE
smiþ
“a smith, a worker in metal”
Old English
OE
loc
“a fastening, bolt, or enclosure”
Middle English
ME
lok smyth
“a maker or repairer of locks”
Modern English
English
locksmith
“a person who makes, repairs, or opens locks”