The word hasp, with roots in Old English and Old High German, was used as early as the 11th century to denote both a fastening clasp for doors and a skein of yarn. It isn't known whether the two uses were related.

Today, a hasp is a handy piece of hardware used for locking a gate, door, window or trunk. It's built similar to a metal hinge, but has one long, slotted leaf and one leaf that is screwed to the door or surface. The slot passes over a heavy staple that can be padlocked.

Plain or decorative, hasps come in a variety of sizes, from 1 to 2 inches wide and up to about 6 inches long. One type has a staple or ring that can be turned to secure it without a lock. Another type, the safety hasp is made so it can't be taken off with a screwdriver unless the padlock is removed.

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