Verrouillé

Verrouillé is the past participle of the French verb verrouiller, meaning to lock, bolt, or secure. As an adjective, it describes something that has been fastened with a lock or bolt, for example, La porte est verrouillée. It can also indicate a state of blocked access or immobilization, as in un compte verrouillé or un système verrouillé.

Etymology and use: The word comes from verrous, the noun for a bolt or crossbar, with the -illé suffix forming a past participle. In everyday language, verrouillé commonly refers to physical security devices on doors, windows, safes, or other closures, as well as to situations where access is restricted or a mechanism is engaged.

Computing and technical contexts: In information technology and engineering, verrouillage denotes a locking mechanism that prevents concurrent access or modification. Phrases such as verouiller un fichier or le verrouillage d’un système are frequent, referring to file locks, user accounts that cannot be accessed, or database and operating system protections.

Related terms: Verrouiller (to lock), verrouillage (the act or state of locking), and verrou (the bolt itself) are closely related. The nuance often depends on whether the emphasis is on the physical action of locking, the resulting state, or the mechanism used to secure.

In common usage, verrouillé conveys a clear sense of security, restriction, or immobility, whether applied to a door, an account, a file, or a system.