screw

screw
{{11}}screw (n.) c.1400, from M.Fr. escroue "nut, cylindrical socket, screwhole," of uncertain etymology; not found in other Romanic languages. Perhaps via Gallo-Romance *scroba or W.Gmc. *scruva from V.L. scrobis "screw-head groove," in classical Latin "ditch, trench," also "vagina" (Diez, though OED finds this "phonologically impossible"). Kluge and others trace it to L. scrofa "breeding sow," perhaps based on the shape of a pig's penis (Cf. Port. porca, Sp. perca "a female screw," from L. porca "sow"). A group of apparently cognate Germanic words (M.L.G., M.Du. schruve, Du. schroef, Ger. Schraube, Swed. skrufva "screw") often are said to be French loan-words. Sense of "means of pressure or coercion" is from 1640s, probably in reference to instruments of torture (e.g. thumbscrews). Meaning "prison guard, warden" is 1812 in underworld slang, originally in reference to the key they carried. To have a screw loose "have a dangerous (usually mental) weakness" is recorded from 1810. Screwy (1820) originally meant "tipsy, slightly drunk;" sense of "crazy, ridiculous" first recorded 1887.
{{12}}screw (v.) "to twist (something) like a screw," 1590s, from SCREW (Cf. screw) (n.). Slang meaning "to copulate" dates from at least 1725, on the notion of driving a screw into something. Meaning "a prostitute" also is attested from 1725. Slang meaning "an act of copulation" (n.) is recorded from 1929. First recorded 1949 in exclamations as a euphemism. Related: Screwed; screwing.

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

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  • Screw — (skr[udd]), n. [OE. scrue, OF. escroue, escroe, female screw, F. [ e]crou, L. scrobis a ditch, trench, in LL., the hole made by swine in rooting; cf. D. schroef a screw, G. schraube, Icel. skr[=u]fa.] 1. A cylinder, or a cylindrical perforation,… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • screw — [skro͞o] n. [ME screwe < MFr escroue, hole in which the screw turns < L scrofa, sow, infl. by scrobis, vulva] 1. a) a mechanical device for fastening things together, consisting essentially of a cylindrical or conical piece of metal… …   English World dictionary

  • 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. [1913 Webster] 2. To… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Screw — (kurz für: screwing chopping) ist eine Remix Technik der Hip Hop Musik, die aus dem Süden der USA stammt. Dabei wird ein Lied (meist ein Hip Hop Track) in langsamer Geschwindigkeit abgespielt (screwed zu deutsch etwa: heruntergeschraubt), Teile… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • screw — screw·able; screw; screw·drive; screw·driv·er; screw·er; screw·less; screw·man; un·screw; cork·screw; …   English syllables

  • screw — ► NOUN 1) a thin, sharp pointed metal pin with a raised spiral thread running around it and a slotted head, used to join things together by being rotated in under pressure. 2) a cylinder with a spiral ridge or thread running round the outside… …   English terms dictionary

  • screw up — {v. phr.}, {slang}, {semi vulgar}, {best avoided} 1. To make a mess of, to make an error which causes confusion. * /The treasurer screwed up the accounts of the Society so badly that he had to be fired./ 2. To cause someone to be neurotic or… …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • screw up — {v. phr.}, {slang}, {semi vulgar}, {best avoided} 1. To make a mess of, to make an error which causes confusion. * /The treasurer screwed up the accounts of the Society so badly that he had to be fired./ 2. To cause someone to be neurotic or… …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • Screw 32 — was a Berkeley/ East Bay area punk rock band. Their name is derived from an anti skateboarding measure on the ballots in Concord, California. They were noted for self publicity. For example, they ordered stickers by the thousands and stuck them… …   Wikipedia

  • screw-up — noun count usually singular INFORMAL a situation in which someone makes a big mistake: There s been a big screw up with the mailing list no one s received the invitations. another government screw up …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • screw up — (something) to spoil or damage something. You couldn t screw up much worse than I did. Somehow the lawyer screwed up my appointment again. This is detailed work, and people screw it up once in a while …   New idioms dictionary

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