Definition of "night-key" [night-key]

• A key for opening a door that is fitted with a night-latch. (noun)

The Century Dictionary (Public Domain)

• "Not a living creature was to be seen, save the dissipated family cat -- a very Lovelace of a cat that was not allowed a night-key -- who was sitting on the curbstone opposite, waiting for the hall door to be opened."
• "After dragging his body into a dark alley, so that he might not be found by the watchman, I rifled his pockets of their contents, among which was the night-key of his house, which I regarded as a prize of inestimable value."
• "'Leaving the corpse of Mr. Ross in the alley, I went straight to his house in Howard street, and admitted myself by means of the night-key which I had found in his pocket."