The time period for a operated by hand can opener, notably one with a pointed finish for piercing cans and a flattened finish for levering off bottle caps, evokes a way of incongruity. Its designation, typically utilized to a easy instrument used for accessing canned items and bottled drinks, stems from a selected interval in its historical past and a perceived resemblance to a special object.
The rise in reputation of this instrument coincided with a time when church buildings held a extra central place in group life. The implement’s form, particularly the older variations with a pointed finish and a curved lever, bore a superficial resemblance to the keys used to unlock church doorways. This visible similarity, coupled with the instrument’s capability to “unlock” the contents of cans and bottles, probably contributed to the adoption of the moniker. The gadget provided higher comfort than earlier can-opening strategies, making it a helpful instrument in households and at social gatherings.