door-chain

Switching off the light, he slipped back the door-chain, and stole out.

The Silver Spoon 2004

He heard the rattling of the door-chain, but it seemed rather as if it were being put up than taken down, and this suspicion was confirmed when it was opened with a little jar and stopped short at the confines of the chain.

Aunt Rachel David Christie Murray

Of all the lodgers in the house, I was the most likely to be up late, and if one of the forgetful old gentlemen fastened the door-chain, to me would fall the duty of answering the signals of distress from the stoop.

David Malcolm Nelson Lloyd 1903

As he was manoeuvring the door-chain, Priscilla said --

The Grim Smile of the Five Towns Arnold Bennett 1899

The words had hardly left my lips, when we heard the door-chain rattle.

The Four Faces A Mystery William Le Queux 1895

In a few moments he heard the door-chain withdrawn, and a woman's voice cried:

A Royal Prisoner Pierre Souvestre 1894

My mother hurried out into the hall; I made my best speed after her, and found her hastily undoing the door-chain as she recognised the measured, courteous voice of old Mr. Fordyce.

Chantry House Charlotte Mary Yonge 1862

Klem stragglers; these may be dimly observed, when the heavy shadows fall, flitting to and fro, putting up the door-chain, taking in the pint of beer, lowering like phantoms at the dark parlour windows, or secretly consorting underground with the dust-bin and the water cistern.

The Uncommercial Traveller 1861

For what's a door-chain when she's got one always up?

Great Expectations Dickens, Charles, 1812-1870 1861

For what's a door-chain when she's got one always up?

Great Expectations 1860