Alcolock

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈæl.kə.lɒk/

Definitions

1. A device that measures breath alcohol levels to enable or disable vehicle operation based on the detected alcohol content
2. An electronic unit designed to prevent vehicle ignition until an alcohol level test is passed through a breath sample
3. A mechanism that tests a driver's breath for alcohol and prevents the vehicle from starting if the level is too high

Etymology: The word is a blend of "alcohol" and "lock", joined to describe a device that stops a vehicle from starting unless the driver first blows into a breath sensor and registers an alcohol level below a set limit. Blending two existing words this way is a common English method for naming a new gadget: the first part names the thing the device detects, and the second names what it does. The idea behind the device is simpler than the name. Its job is to act as a gatekeeper on the ignition, so that the car is physically locked against a driver who has been drinking. The "lock" half carries the mechanical sense of a barrier that opens only under the right conditions, while "alcohol" tells the reader what condition is being checked. Compounds of this kind are usually transparent to speakers, which is why the word needs little explanation once its two parts are known.