lockfile

A file whose existence, by convention, indicates that a particular resource is in use.

Noun

  1. A file whose existence, by convention, indicates that a particular resource is in use.
    • To remedy this, the script went under the knife again to take advantage of UUCP device-locking semantics. pppd and other well-mannered applications which use the modem will write lockfiles to /var/lock/ as long as you...

Origin

Compound of lock + file.

Forms

lockfiles