Definition

1. Noun:
   • A screw designed to be turned with the thumb and fingers: A type of screw with a head shaped to allow easy turning by hand, without the need for a tool.
   • An instrument of torture that crushes the thumb: A historical torture device consisting of a metal apparatus that applies extreme pressure to a person's thumbs.

Examples

• Noun (Tool):
  • The small clamp was secured with a simple thumbscrew.
  • Adjust the focus using the thumbscrew on the side of the binoculars.
• Noun (Torture Device):
  • The museum displayed a medieval thumbscrew used for interrogation.
  • The threat of the thumbscrew was enough to make the prisoner talk.

Advanced Usage

• "to apply the thumbscrew(s)": To apply pressure or use coercive tactics to force someone to do something. This is a figurative extension from the torture device.
  • The creditors began to apply the thumbscrews to get their money back.

Variants and Related Words

• Thumbnut: A type of nut designed to be tightened by hand, similar in function to the tool meaning of a thumbscrew.

Synonyms

• For the tool: Wing screw, hand screw, finger screw.
• For the torture device: Torture instrument, thumbkin.

Related Phrases

• "to tighten the thumbscrews": To increase pressure on someone, typically to force action or compliance.
  • Management is tightening the thumbscrews to meet the quarterly targets.

Noun

1. screw designed to be turned with the thumb and fingers
2. instrument of torture that crushes the thumb