pilliwinks

1. (chiefly Scotland, historical) A torture device for squeezing the fingers; a thumbscrew.Examples: "[H]er maiſter to the intent that he might the better trie and finde out the truth of the ſame, did with the help of others, torment her with the torture of the Pilliwinkes upon her fingers, which is a grieuous torture, [...]"; "On the 24th June 1596, John Stewart, Maſter of Orkney, was indicted for conſulting with Aliſon Balfour, a witch, for the deſtruction of Patrick Earl of Orkney, his brother, by poiſon.— [...] No regard can be had to it, in reſpect the ſaid confeſſion was extorted by force of torment; [...] her little daughter, about ſeven years old, put in the pilniewinks; all in the poor woman's preſence, to make her confeſs. [...] It was pleaded for Alaſter Grant, who was indicted for theft and robbery 3d Auguſt 1632, "That he cannot paſs to the knowledge of an aſſize, in respect he was twice put to the torture, firſt in the boots, and next in the pilliewinks or pinniewinks; [...]""; "They prick us and they pine us, and they pit us on the pinnywinkles for witches; [...]"Scotlandhistoricalpluralplural-only