An instrument of torture used for squeezing the fingers.
〈史〉夹指刑具
Example sentencesExamples
Other means of torture used in the Tower included the thumbscrew, the boot, the narrow-bore, the iron collar, the pilliwinks, and the brakes, a device used to break the victims' teeth.
If you can not be reined in, pilliwinks will be applied to set you right.
Origin
Late Middle Englishpyrwykes, pyrewinkes, of unknown origin.