a. [f. KEY sb.1 + -LESS.] Without a key or keys. a. Of a door or lock.
1823. Byron, Island, IV. vi. A spacious cave, Whose only portal was the keyless wave.
1860. Reade, Cloister & H., xciv. Faith and simplicity had guarded that keyless door.
b. Of a watch or clock that is wound up otherwise than by means of a key. Hence of a mechanism, method of winding, etc.
1828. Mech. Mag., IX. 66. Berrollas’ keyless watch or clock.
1881. F. J. Britten, Watch & Clockm., 73. The simple keyless mechanism used for going barrels is not suitable for the fusee. Ibid. (1884), 247. The ordinary method of keyless winding.
c. Of a musical instrument.
1875. trans. Blaserna’s Th. Sound, v. § 8. The primitive keyless trumpet.
d. Without explanatory key.
1861. J. Pycroft, Ways & Words, 83. Such compositions have … a voice only for the initiated, but are keyless mysteries to all others.
1892. Pall Mall Gaz., 22 Sept., 2/1. We find your work so abstruse, your parables so keyless.
