Pilliwinks

Quick meaning: Pilliwinks is a noun meaning (chiefly Scotland, historical) A torture device for squeezing the fingers; a thumbscrew.

Meaning

(chiefly Scotland, historical) A torture device for squeezing the fingers; a thumbscrew.

Example Sentences

They prick us and they pine us, and they pit us on the pinnywinkles for witches; [...]

[S]end me that hag hither; she shall avouch what it was that she hath given to the wretch Dryfesdale, or the pilniewinks and thumbikins shall wrench it out of her finger-joints.

[H]er maiſter to the intent that he might the better trie and finde out the truth of the ſame, did with the help of others, torment her with the torture of the Pilliwinkes upon her fingers, which is a grieuous torture, [...]

The two generals were ultra Tories, and were regarded not unjustly as acting with uncalled for severity against the disaffected. They introduced "from Muscovy" "Pilliwinks, or Thumbikins,"—"a new invention, used," says Fountainhall, "among the Coilzears [i.e., colliers] when transgressors."

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include pilliwinkes, pinnywinkles, thumbkin, thumbikins, thumbscrew, pincers.

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