unpickableadj.
/(ˌ)ʌnˈpɪkəbl/, U.S. /ˌənˈpɪkəb(ə)l/ That cannot be picked (in various senses of pick v.1); spec. (of a lock) unopenable with an instrument other than the proper key.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > relative position > closed or shut condition > [adjective] > closed or shut > able to be > not > not able to be picked (of lock)
unpickablea1625
the mind > possession > taking > stealing or theft > picking pockets > [adjective] > unable to be picked
unpickable1870
a1625 F. Beaumont & J. Fletcher Coxcombe ii. ii, in Comedies & Trag. (1647) sig. Nn3v/2 Not a doore open now, but double bard,..and their locks unpickable.
1735 C. Coffey Merry Cobler ii. 4 Nay, their very Locks are unpickable.
1862 Internat. Exhib.: Illustr. Catal. Industr. Dept. II. xxxi. §5993 The so-called ‘unpickable’ locks.
1870 A. D. T. Whitney We Girls xii. 212 She put her principles into her unpickable pocket.
1988 G. M. Burnett Florida's Past II. v. 25 One typical loss was seven hundred acres of tomatoes, which were underwater and unpickable.
2013 Journal (Newcastle) (Nexis) 25 Sept. 64 The England selectors bewilderingly seem to view him as unpickable.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2014; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
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adj.a1625