thumbscrew
thumbscrew — 名詞
- thumbscrewsingular
- thumbscrewsplural
1. a metal instrument used in past centuries to squeeze and break a person's thumb,
拇指夾
古代逼供用的刑具
a metal instrument used in past centuries to squeeze and break a person's thumb, often as a method of punishment or to force someone to confess to a crime
The museum displayed an iron thumbscrew used by interrogators in the 1600s.
博物館展示了一只十七世紀審訊者使用的鐵製拇指夾。
passive: 'was used by [agent]' in historical context
Folake read about the thumbscrew in her history textbook and felt grateful for modern laws.
Folake 在歷史教科書中讀到拇指夾的介紹，對現代的法治感到慶幸。
During the trial, the old document described how a thumbscrew was used to obtain confessions.
在審判過程中，那份古老文件描述了如何使用拇指夾來取得口供。
Sirin's history class examined a replica of a 17th-century thumbscrew during their lesson.
Sirin 的歷史課在課堂上仔細觀察了一只十七世紀拇指夾的複製品。
Historians believe the thumbscrew was one of the most feared tools in Europe's torture chambers.
歷史學家認為拇指夾是歐洲酷刑室中最令人恐懼的工具之一。
- thumbkin
a less common historical English name for the same device
文法句型
a thumbscrew
the thumbscrew
thumbscrews (plural)
用法筆記
Almost always used in historical or literary contexts today. In figurative use (e.g., 'put the thumbscrews on someone'), the word means to apply strong pressure or coercion.
常見錯誤
2. a screw with a ridged or flattened head that can be tightened or loosened easily
拇指螺絲
可用手指轉動的螺絲
a screw with a ridged or flattened head that can be tightened or loosened easily using only a person's thumb and finger, without needing any tools
Ryo tightened the thumbscrew on the lamp's base until the arm stayed in place.
Ryo 將燈座上的拇指螺絲鎖緊，直到燈臂固定不動。
verb pattern: 'tighten [object] on [location]'
The carpenter used a large thumbscrew to fasten the wooden clamp on his workbench.
木匠用一個大號拇指螺絲將工作台上的木夾具鎖緊。
Esteban replaced the kitchen faucet's broken thumbscrew with a new one from the hardware store.
Esteban 從五金行買了一個新拇指螺絲，換掉廚房水龍頭上損壞的那個。
Rohan turned the brass thumbscrew on the tripod to lock the camera in place.
Rohan 轉動三腳架上的黃銅拇指螺絲，將相機鎖定在適當位置。
A small brass thumbscrew on the camera mount let Kemi adjust the angle quickly.
相機支架側面的一顆小黃銅拇指螺絲讓 Kemi 能夠快速調整角度。
- knurled screw
a screw with a textured outer surface for grip, similar in function
- hand screw
any screw or clamp designed to be turned without tools, a broader category
文法句型
a thumbscrew
the thumbscrew
thumbscrews (plural)
tighten / loosen + a thumbscrew
用法筆記
Common in technical descriptions of equipment that needs adjustment by hand. The head of a thumbscrew is often knurled or flattened to provide grip for the fingers.