Round or shaped handles fixed to doors that you grasp and turn to open or close a door.
From 'door' (Old English 'duru') and 'knob' (possibly from Middle Low German 'knobben'). The compound was created as spherical knobs became the standard door hardware in the 19th century, replacing older latch systems.
Doorknobs were revolutionary because they made doors controllable by anyone—before them, doors used latches requiring strength or tools, so doorknobs basically democratized access to rooms and changed architecture forever!
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