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.

The Gutenberg Webster's Unabridged Dictionary: Section S · 第 355 / 3215 题