Thumbscrew
noun
A type of torture device used in the past to press or twist a person's thumb.
The torturer applied the thumbscrew to make the prisoner confess.
Often appears as...
- apply a thumbscrew
- tighten the thumbscrew
Usage tips
Historical
noun
A screw having a flat-edged screw head so that it can be tightened or loosened by a thumb and finger.
I used a thumbscrew to fasten the components together without needing a screwdriver.
Often appears as...
- tighten a thumbscrew
- loosen a thumbscrew
Usage tips
Technical
noun
A method of pressure or coercion.
The boss uses fear as a thumbscrew to keep his employees working hard.
Often appears as...
- use something as a thumbscrew
- be under the thumbscrew
Usage tips
Disapproving
Colloquial, Idiomatic
noun
A type of torture device used in the past to press or twist a person's thumb.
The torturer applied the thumbscrew to make the prisoner confess.
Often appears as...
- apply a thumbscrew
- tighten the thumbscrew
Usage tips
Historical
noun
A screw having a flat-edged screw head so that it can be tightened or loosened by a thumb and finger.
I used a thumbscrew to fasten the components together without needing a screwdriver.
Often appears as...
- tighten a thumbscrew
- loosen a thumbscrew
Usage tips
Technical
noun
A method of pressure or coercion.
The boss uses fear as a thumbscrew to keep his employees working hard.
Often appears as...
- use something as a thumbscrew
- be under the thumbscrew
Usage tips
Disapproving
Colloquial, Idiomatic
Definition 1 of 3
Pro Tip 1/2Historic Cruelty
Shows the violent methods used to force confessions in history.
Museums may display a thumbscrew to illustrate medieval torture.
Pro Tip 2/2Archaic Term
Rarely used in modern conversation, except to describe historical events.
He described the inquisition's use of the thumbscrew.
Compare with
screwdriverspannerwrench
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