a tool which has handles
similar to scissors but with jaws instead of blades, used to tightly
grasp things, such as the head of a
nail when removing it from wood. Pincers are known to have been used during the
Middle Ages (
circa 476--1450 "MDRV"a.d.) in administering torture, especially by using them to grab and remove parts of a
victim's flesh or his toenails, fingernails, etc. And if every
time this fellow
hit a
rough spot on the road you simply applied the
lead boot or the pincers or the
brass basket full of
rats or some other interesting medieval torture and said, "Now, if you
don't get that next paragraph, you're going to have had it,
bud."
-A Review of Study (22 Sept. 64) n. a tool for gripping things and
holding them tight, constructed
similar to scissors but with jaws as opposed to blades. The jaws are pivoted and attached to a pair of handles by which they can be tightly pressed together. Pincers are used to
grasp things, such as the head of a
nail when removing it from wood. They have also been used to
administer torture, especially by grabbing and removing parts of a
victim's flesh or his toenails, fingernails, etc.