- pilliwinks
-
/pil"euh wingks'/, n. (used with a sing. or pl. v.)an old instrument of torture similar to the thumbscrew.[1350-1400; Scots var. of late ME pyrwykes, pyrewinkes < ?]
* * *
Universalium. 2010.
pilliwinks
Look at other dictionaries:
pilliwinks — noun A torture device for fingers and toes. Syn: thumbscrew … Wiktionary
pilliwinks — [ pɪlɪwɪŋks] plural noun historical an instrument of torture used for squeezing the fingers. Origin ME pyrwykes, pyrewinkes, of unknown origin … English new terms dictionary
pilliwinks — pil·li·winks … English syllables
pilliwinks — n. hist. an instrument of torture used for squeezing the fingers. Etymology: ME pyrwykes, pyrewinkes, of unkn. orig … Useful english dictionary
Thumbscrew — The thumbscrew, or pilliwinks, is a torture instrument which was used in medieval Europe. It is a simple vise, sometimes with protruding studs on the interior surfaces. The victim s thumbs or fingers were placed in the vise and slowly crushed.… … Wikipedia
thumbscrew — noun a) A screw that can be turned with the thumb and fingers b) An instrument of torture used to crush the fingers Syn: pilliwinks … Wiktionary
John Fian — Dr John Fian (alias Cunninghame) (d. 16th December 1591) was a Scottish schoolmaster and purported Warlock. Fian was schoolmaster in Prestonpans, East Lothian. He was accused along with Agnes Sampson, and others of raising storms to sink the… … Wikipedia
Newes from Scotland — declaring the damnable life and death of Dr. John Fian is a pamphlet written by King James VI of Scotland that was printed in London in 1591, and reprinted as part of Daemonologie in 1597.[1] It describes the infamous North Berwick witch trials… … Wikipedia
Old Tolbooth, Edinburgh — The Old Tolbooth, Edinburgh The Old Tolbooth was a medieval building located on the Royal Mile in Edinburgh, Scotland. Demolished in 1817, the Tolbooth served various purposes during its existence. It housed early meetings of the Estates of… … Wikipedia
VIRELAI — Du XIIIe au XVe siècle, forme la plus répandue de la chanson française. Le virelai classique débute, comme le rondeau, par une strophe refrain reprise après chacune des trois strophes couplets de huit vers. De plus, la dernière partie de la… … Encyclopédie Universelle
