lætʃ n. & v. --n. 1 a bar
with a
catch and lever used as a
fastening for a gate etc. 2 a spring-lock preventing a
door from being opened from
the outside without a key
after being
shut. --v.tr. & intr.
fasten or be fastened with a latch. ølatch on (often foll. by to) colloq. 1
attach oneself (to). 2
understand. on the latch fastened by the latch
only,
not locked. [prob. f. (now dial.) latch (v.)
seize f. OE lóccan f. Gmc]