Idiom
Lock, Stock and Barrel: Origin and Meaning
Meaning
Lock, stock and barrel is used to talk about things that are complete or total.
Origin
In early days of firearms manufacture, individual craftsmen made individual components one at a time. One craftsmen made the” lock” or firing mechanism which could be a “match lock”, “wheel lock” or “flintlock” etc. The next craftsman made the “barrel” and the last craftsman, who was a woodworker made the “stock”. At some point a craftsman or merchant started advertising firearms “Lock, Stock and Barrel”. Meaning you could buy a gun complete and ready to use.
In early days of firearms manufacture, individual craftsmen made individual components one at a time. One craftsmen made the” lock” or firing mechanism which could be a “match lock”, “wheel lock” or “flintlock” etc. The next craftsman made the “barrel” and the last craftsman, who was a woodworker made the “stock”. At some point a craftsman or merchant started advertising firearms “Lock, Stock and Barrel”. Meaning you could buy a gun complete and ready to use.Examples
We bought the house lock stock and barrel (including furniture and fittings)
In the fire we lost everything. Lock, stock and barrel.
He moved the whole company, lock, stock and barrel to Mexico.
In the fire we lost everything. Lock, stock and barrel.
He moved the whole company, lock, stock and barrel to Mexico.
