A common word by our calculations, yet upon which much relied in our tale. There are dozens and dozens of meaning and uses for Key and it’s got cognate words in Frisian and Old Frisian — but nowhere else! It’s origin is a localized mystery! I shall now imagine an early Frisian child named Ki who could get into anything.

• 1.113 that with the map went a key,
• 1.113 a small and curious key.
• 1.113 and handed to Thorin a key
• 1.134 and the key.’
• 1.136 and use the key.
• 2.019 pushing his keys into Gandalf’s hands,
• 2.112 He held out a largish key,
• 5.040 A box without hinges, key, or lid,
• 9.026 Very soon the chief guard had no keys,
• 9.026 for he could not prevent the keys from making every now
• 9.033 when you managed to get hold of the keys.
• 9.034 but I don’t suppose I shall ever get hold of the keys again,
• 9.035 and kindheartedly put the keys back on his belt.
• 10.040 about keys or barrels while the dwarves stayed
• 11.034 The key!
• 11.034 The key!’
• 11.036 The key!’
• 11.036 The key that went with the map!
• 11.037 and drew the key on its chain from round his neck.
• 13.002 Neither key nor the magic it had once obeyed