thumbscrew

英 [ˈθʌmskruː]

美 [ˈθʌmskruː]

n.  拇指夹(旧时的一种刑具)

复数：thumbscrews　

机械

BNC.41516 / COCA.33643

牛津词典

noun

• 拇指夹（旧时的一种刑具）
  an instrument that was used in the past for torturing people by crushing their thumbs

柯林斯词典

• 拇指夹(旧时的一种刑具)
  Athumbscrewis an object that was used in the past to torture people by crushing their thumbs.
• 极大的压力
  If someone puts thethumbscrewson you, they start to put you under extreme pressure in order to force you to do something.

英英释义

noun

• screw designed to be turned with the thumb and fingers
• instrument of torture that crushes the thumb