The '''thumbscrew''' was an instrument of [[torture]] used in most of [[Europe]] until the 1700's. It consisted of two surfaces of metal, set on a screw with a small handle to twist it down. The victim's [[thumb]] would be put between the surfaces and the screw screwed down, crushing the thumb between the metal. Some variants had spaces for both thumbs
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The '''thumbscrew''' was an instrument of [[torture]] used in most of [[Europe]] until the 1700s. It consisted of two surfaces of metal, set on a screw with a small handle to twist it down. The victim's [[thumb]] would be put between the surfaces and the screw screwed down, crushing the thumb between the metal. Some variants had spaces for both thumbs