Key, (rhyming to “survey:” Sonn. 52, 1. to “may:” Merch. II, 7, 59). 1) an instrument to shut and open a lock: Sonn. 52, 1. Gent. III, 1, 36. Gent. III, 1, 36 Wiv. II, 2, 285. III, 3, 172. Meas. IV, 1, 31. V, 467. Err. IV, 1, 103. Ado V, 1, 318. LLL III, 5. Merch II, 5, 12. II, 7, 59. II, 9, 51. Wint. I, 2, 464. IV, 4, 624. H4B I, 2, 45. H6A II, 3, 2. H6C IV, 7, 37. R3 I, 4, 96. Rom. IV, 4, 1. Lr. I, 2, 186. Cymb. I, 1, 73. V, 4, 7. to turn the k. == a) to open the door: Meas. I, 4, 8. Mcb. II, 3, 2. Lr. II, 4, 53. III, 7, 64. Oth. IV, 2, 94. b) to shut the door: R2 V, 3, 36. Metaphorical use: “keep thy friend under thy own life's k.” All's I, 1, 76. “didst bear the k. of all my counsels,” H5 II, 2, 96. Hml. I, 3, 86. Oth. IV, 2, 22. “these counties were the --s of Normandy,” H6B I, 1, 114. “had he Duncan's sons under his k.” Mcb. III, 6, 18.
2) the fundamental note of a musical composition, the clef: Ado I, 1, 188. Mids. III, 2, 206. Metaphorically, == tone: “my feeble k. of untuned cares,” Err. V, 310. “I will wed thee in another k.” Mids. I, 1, 18. “in a bondman's k.” Merch. I, 3, 124. “an accent tuned in selfsame k.” Troil. I, 3, 53.
3) a tool for tuning stringed instruments, a tuningkey: “having both the key of officer and office, set all hearts i' the state to what tune pleased his ear,” Tp. I, 2, 83.
Shakespeare Lexicon. Alexander Schmidt. Berlin. Georg Reimer. 1902.
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