thumbscrew Hear it!

thumbscrew definition

thumb·screw (t̸hum′skro̵̅o̅′)

noun

  1. a screw with a head shaped in such a way that it can be turned with the thumb and forefinger
  2. a former instrument of torture for squeezing the thumbs

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Comments
Improve this definition.
Do you have more to add? Share your linguistic knowledge or observation.
/Register to save your comments.