Latchstrings
Latchstrings are strings or cords used to operate a latch or lock on a door, typically found on older style homes or buildings. These latchstrings were often made of rope or leather and were used to lift or lower a latch mechanism to secure or release a door. In historical contexts, latchstrings were a common feature in rural or frontier homes as a means of allowing visitors to enter by lifting the latch from the outside. The phrase "keep the latchstring out" is often used figuratively to signify a welcoming or open-door policy.