Maigret quite often comes across things called 'clés anglaises' and for some reason I had decided that this meant what I call wrecking bars, a sort of tempered steel crowbar which comes in various sizes and which is very handy for all kinds of demolition work. Including the removal of large nails from things like joists and rafters. Also used by burglars for forcing entry through doors and windows, to the point where being seen carrying one at night used to sufficient reason to be stopped and searched.
But at reference 1, first noticed at reference 2, Simenon uses 'clé anglaise' as a synonym of 'clé à molette', an adjustable spanner. Perhaps a wrench, monkey wrench or stillson. This last also coming in various sizes and being very handy for all kinds of work with pipes and nuts. More generally, also used by criminals for bashing the innocent over the head. The original blunt instrument. With a 'molette' also being the little wheel you get inside that kind of spurs. Or a glass cutter.
So how did I come to get it wrong?
The Bing translation service which surfaced at reference 3 during my investigations offers 'barre d'épave' for wrecking bar, but I think that this might be a literal translation, not much used by French speakers. A brico shop suggested instead 'pince à décoffrer'. Not convinced by either, they both seem a lot more clumsy that our wrecking bar.
Then Littré suggested that a 'clef anglaise' is a dental forceps, the thing used for pulling teeth. So perhaps a key in France is anything which gets one in, gets the job done. And an English key is anything used for a bit of rough work, with what exactly depending on context.
Maybe I was not so far wrong after all.
I leave it to readers to suggest what kind of rough work the key illustrated might be for.
Reference 1: Maigret et les Témoins récalcitrants - Simenon - 1958. Volume 21 of the collected works.
Reference 2: http://psmv3.blogspot.co.uk/2017/11/changing-guard.html.
Reference 3: https://www.bing.com/translator/.
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