CHURCH KEYS
"The tool that punches a triangular hole in
a beer can is called a church key."

 

The American Heritage Dictionary
of the English Language: Fourth Edition 2000. defines:
                   -Church key-
SYLLABICATION: church key
NOUN : A can or bottle opener having a usually triangular head.

 

I have been told that the expression church key is much older than the device that leaves a triangular hole in beer cans. Indeed, it goes back to early days of the brewing business, when beer was first dispensed in bottles. 'The expression church key is old in the brewing business.'
Everybody carried a bottle opener or church key, perhaps so called because it looked like the top end of the kind of heavy ornate key used to unlock church doors.

 

The 1st one is a milk opener.
The 2nd two are beer bottle/can openers.
The 3rd and 4th are bottle openers.

The last opener is a cork screw.
It has a ring to hold on to to pull the screw out of a round case.

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