thumbkin

English

Etymology

From thumb +‎ -kin.

Noun

thumbkin (plural thumbkins)

1. (historical) An instrument of torture for compressing the thumb; a thumbscrew.
2. (rare, childish) The thumb.
   • 1895, Margaret Naomi MacArthur, Kindergarten Review‎^[1], Finger Play, page 75:

     Thumbkin is the pusher.
     Pointer shows us where to go.
     Tall-man wears the thimble,
     And helps us all to sew.

References

• “thumbkin”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.