Screw \Screw\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Screwed; p. pr. & vb. n.
Screwing.]
1. To turn, as a screw; to apply a screw to; to press,
fasten, or make firm, by means of a screw or screws; as,
to screw a lock on a door; to screw a press.
2. To force; to squeeze; to press, as by screws.
But screw your courage to the sticking place, And
we'll not fail. --Shak.
3. Hence: To practice extortion upon; to oppress by
unreasonable or extortionate exactions.
Our country landlords, by unmeasurable screwing and
racking their tenants, have already reduced the
miserable people to a worse condition than the
peasants in France. --swift.
4. To twist; to distort; as, to screw his visage.
He screwed his face into a hardened smile. --Dryden.
5. To examine rigidly, as a student; to subject to a severe
examination. [Cant, American Colleges]
To screw out, to press out; to extort.
To screw up, to force; to bring by violent pressure.
--Howell.
Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
|