bed-key

"Well," thought I, "it is worth the trouble;" so I procured a bed-key; and at length -- at length -- two of the screws yielded to my efforts.

Godey's Lady's Book, Vol. 42, January, 1851 Various

Accordingly, when Saturday came I commenced operations; but, after removing the bed and mattress I discovered, to my great concern, that, although the bedstead would stand as I wished, yet I could not turn it thither without first taking it apart; and for this a bed-key was necessary.

Godey's Lady's Book, Vol. 42, January, 1851 Various

She had not so much as taken off the curtains; I tore them off/[Page 241]/distractedly, pulled in pieces all of the bed that was pullable, and saw and killed two, and in one place which I could not get at without a bed-key, 'beings' (as Mazzini would say) were clearly moving!

Letters and Memorials of Jane Welsh Carlyle 1883

Know well that the doll Beautiful had come not from oversea, and was neither of wax nor of china; but she was right ingeniously constructed of a bed-key that was made of wood, and unto the top of this bed-key had the

The Holy Cross and Other Tales Eugene Field 1872

He rang the bell and when the servant came asked for a bed-key.

The Note-Books of Samuel Butler Samuel Butler 1868

With the bed-key, which was in the closet, I took down the bedstead as quietly as I could.

Seek and Find or The Adventures of a Smart Boy Oliver Optic 1859