thumbscrew
/ˈθʌmskruː/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈθʌmskruː/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈthəm-ˌskrü How to pronounce thumbscrew (audio)/ (ame, mw)
thumbscrew — 名詞
- thumbscrewsingular
- thumbscrewsplural
1. a metal instrument used in past centuries to crush a person's thumbs as a way of
拇指夾
古代夾拇指的刑具
a metal instrument used in past centuries to crush a person's thumbs as a way of forcing confessions or punishing people.
Minho pointed at the rusty thumbscrew in the castle museum.
Minho 指著城堡博物館裡那個生鏽的拇指夾。
historical context with rusty / castle museum
Padma read that judges once ordered the thumbscrew to force confessions from prisoners.
Padma 讀到法官曾下令使用拇指夾來逼迫囚犯認罪。
At the torture exhibit, a seventeenth-century thumbscrew sat inside a glass box.
在酷刑展區，一個十七世紀的拇指夾放在玻璃盒裡。
The old thumbscrew on the iron table had a dark stain across its metal surface.
那張鐵桌上的老舊拇指夾，金屬表面有一道深色污漬。
Historians believe the thumbscrew was used across Europe for nearly three hundred years.
歷史學家認為拇指夾在歐洲使用了將近三百年。
- torture device
a general category, not a precise synonym — any tool used to inflict pain
- manacle
a restraint for the hands, not a crushing instrument — different purpose
用法筆記
Now only found in historical writing, museum descriptions, or figurative use. The metaphorical phrase 'put the thumbscrews on someone' means to apply strong pressure to make someone do what you want.
2. a screw whose head has a ridged or flat surface, wide enough that you can grip i
手旋螺絲
可用手指轉動的螺絲
a screw whose head has a ridged or flat surface, wide enough that you can grip it between your thumb and forefinger and turn it without using any tool.
Asher turned the brass thumbscrew on the tripod until the camera felt secure.
Asher 轉動三腳架上的銅製手旋螺絲，直到相機穩固為止。
collocation: brass thumbscrew / turn the thumbscrew
Kemi tightened the plastic thumbscrew on the bicycle lamp with her fingers.
Kemi 用手指把腳踏車燈上的塑膠手旋螺絲轉緊。
A stainless-steel thumbscrew secures the battery cover on the back of the radio.
收音機背面的電池蓋由一根不鏽鋼手旋螺絲固定。
Trang adjusted the height of the desk lamp by turning the black thumbscrew.
Trang 轉動黑色手旋螺絲，調整了桌燈的高度。
Ezra removed the thumbscrew from the clamp and slid the wooden board out.
Ezra 從夾具上拆下手旋螺絲，把木板抽了出來。
- wing screw
a screw with two flat 'wings' for turning; more specific shape than a thumbscrew
- hand screw
a broader term for any screw turned by hand, including thumbscrews and wing screws
用法筆記
Often written as two words ('thumb screw') in hardware catalogues and DIY instructions.