thumbscrew
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thumbscrew
- /ˈθʌmskɹuː/
noun thumbscrews · thumb-screw · thumb screw
- A screw that is designed to be turned with the thumb and fingers, thus requiring no screwdriver or spanner (wrench). Very interested, Dr Grimsby watched the saw follow the fine pencil line on the white pearwood as Peter dexterously twirled the veneers on the fretwork table, timing the movement of both hands precisely to put no strain on either the saw or the wood. Nor did he acknowledge their presence till he had
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An instrument of torture used to crush the fingers.
To ensure good behavior, the slaveholder relies on the whip; […] to imbrute and destroy his manhood, he relies on the whip, the chain, the gag, the thumb-screw, the pillory, the bowie-knife, the pistol, and the blood-hound.
Similar: pilliwinks
- A weakness that can be taken advantage of. Law 33: Discover Each Man's Thumbscrew ― Robert Greene, The 48 Laws of Power
Translations
Every language
noun type of screw
| Deutsch | Rändelschraube, Flügelschraube |
|---|---|
| Ελληνικά | χειρόβιδα cheiróvida, χειροκοχλίας cheirokochlías |
| Русский | бара́шек barášek |
noun torture instrument
| Español | empulgueras |
|---|---|
| Français | poucette, grésillons |
| Deutsch | Daumenschraube |
| Italiano | schiaccia pollici |
Talk about this word "thumbscrew." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/thumbscrew. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. thumbscrew. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/thumbscrew "thumbscrew." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/thumbscrew.
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@misc{thumbscrew_2026,
title = {thumbscrew},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/thumbscrew},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
