thumbscrew

noun

thumb·​screw ˈthəm-ˌskrü 

1

: an instrument of torture for compressing the thumb by a screw

2

: a screw having a flat-sided or knurled head so that it may be turned by the thumb and index finger

Illustration of thumbscrew

• thumbscrew 2

Examples of thumbscrew in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The drives are also held in place by thumbscrews that are included in the box, along with a LAN cable and an installation guide. — John R. Delaney, PC Magazine, 13 Apr. 2026

But for now, idled IRS workers aren’t applying thumbscrews to taxpayers. — John Seiler, Oc Register, 28 Oct. 2025

And both side panels are tool-less, a snap to slide open with two non-removable thumbscrews. — Jason Evangelho, Forbes, 10 Dec. 2024

The hood secures via a small thumbscrew and is deeper than the lens itself, just like the one for the Leica Summaron. — PCMAG, 26 May 2024

Lock the cable in place by tightening the retaining thumbscrew. — Joseph Truini, Popular Mechanics, 10 Aug. 2021

Word History

First Known Use

1788, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for thumbscrew

• accrue
• ado
• ainu
• aircrew
• airscrew
• anew
• askew
• baboo
• babu
• bamboo
• beaucoup
• bijou