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Latch vs Deadbolt - What's the difference?

latch | deadbolt |

As nouns the difference between latch and deadbolt

is that latch is a fastening for a door that has a bar that fits into a notch or slot, and is lifted by a lever or string from either side while deadbolt is the part of the lock which is moved when the key is engaged.

As verbs the difference between latch and deadbolt

is that latch is to close or lock as if with a latch while deadbolt is to fasten or secure with a deadbolt.

latch

English

(wikipedia latch)

Etymology 1

(etyl) .

Noun

(es)
  • A fastening for a door that has a bar that fits into a notch or slot, and is lifted by a lever or string from either side.
  • * 1912 : (Edgar Rice Burroughs), (Tarzan of the Apes), Chapter 4
    • The cleverly constructed latch which Clayton had made for the door had sprung as Kerchak passed out; nor could the apes find means of ingress through the heavily barred windows.
  • A flip-flop electronic circuit
  • (obsolete) A latching.
  • (obsolete) A crossbow.
  • (obsolete) That which fastens or holds; a lace; a snare.
    • Derived terms
    * on the latch

    Verb

    (es)
  • To close or lock as if with a latch
  • To catch; lay hold of
  • :* Where hearing should not latch them. — Shakespeare, MacBeth , Act IV
    • Derived terms
    * latch on * latch on to * latch onto

    Etymology 2

    Compare (etyl) .

    Verb

    (es)
  • (obsolete) To smear; to anoint.
    • (Shakespeare)

    deadbolt

    English

    Noun

    (en noun) (wikipedia deadbolt)
  • The part of the lock which is moved when the key is engaged.
  • A kind of lock in which the bolt (moving portion) is held in position by the cylinder rather than by a spring and so can not be retracted except by turning the cylinder.

    • Verb

    (en verb)
  • To fasten or secure with a deadbolt.