Noun: thumbscrew 'thúm'skroo
- Screw designed to be turned with the thumb and fingers
"He tightened the thumbscrew on the camera tripod to secure it in place"
- Instrument of torture that crushes the thumb
"The medieval dungeon contained various torture devices, including the dreaded thumbscrew"
Derived forms: thumbscrews
Type of: instrument of torture, screw
Encyclopedia: Thumbscrew