pyrwykes
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Thumbscrew — The thumbscrew, or pilliwinks, is a torture instrument which was used in medieval Europe. It is a simple vise, sometimes with protruding studs on the interior surfaces. The victim s thumbs or fingers were placed in the vise and slowly crushed.… … Wikipedia
pilliwinks — /pil euh wingks /, n. (used with a sing. or pl. v.) an old instrument of torture similar to the thumbscrew. [1350 1400; Scots var. of late ME pyrwykes, pyrewinkes < ?] * * * … Universalium
pilliwinks — [ pɪlɪwɪŋks] plural noun historical an instrument of torture used for squeezing the fingers. Origin ME pyrwykes, pyrewinkes, of unknown origin … English new terms dictionary
pilliwinks — n. hist. an instrument of torture used for squeezing the fingers. Etymology: ME pyrwykes, pyrewinkes, of unkn. orig … Useful english dictionary
