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pilliwinks

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WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

pil•li•winks n. (used with a sing. or pl. v.)

an old instrument of torture similar to the thumbscrew.

?
Scots variant of late Middle English pyrwykes, pyrewinkes 1350–1400

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

pilliwinks / ˈpɪlɪˌwɪŋks/, pilniewinks

a medieval instrument of torture for the fingers and thumbs

Etymology: 14th Century: of uncertain origin

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