"party screws", 1854?

Sat Apr 7 19:59:07 UTC 2012

I would suspect a nonce headline with the meaning of
"screw"--specifically attached to college exams--being quite common and
fitting easily under screw n.1 2.a. I find it interesting that screw n.1
2.a. and b. are detached from 1.e., which is "an instrument of torture
formerly in use, designed to compress the thumbs of a prisoner in order
to extort a confession". At the very least, there should be a
cross-reference between the two--it is a "historical" dictionary after
all. I do understand the desire to separate the two--the torture device
was a variant on the mechanical screw that fits the rest of 1.a-d., but
2.a-b. is purely metaphorical.

Also, 2.b. seems to lack a particular form that is glossed over with a
cop-out phrase: "Phrases. to put on, apply, turn the screw or screws and
similar phrases:  (a) to apply moral pressure; also, used of other kinds
of pressure, e.g. the pressure of competition;  (b) to force the payment
of a debt or loan; also rarely, to limit the giving of credit. Also,
occas., used of blackmail." "Put on screws" IMO has become exceedingly
rare, compared to "put screws to", "put the screw(s) to" variant. In
fact, there is not one example under 2.b. that has screws applied "to"
someone. The only option with targeting PP is with "on", while most
examples have no targeting PP at all.

The earliest listed example is among "put the screws on [them]" variety,
plus several others.

> 1834 C. A. Davis /Lett. J. Downing/ xiv. 96   And if they don't they
> put the screws on 'em.
> 1860   All Year Round 26 May 160   When there is work and plenty of
> it, the operatives turn the screw upon the masters.
> 1883 Sir H. Cotton in /Law Times Rep./ 49 150/2   It cannot be said
> that he did it ... for the purpose of putting the screw on the
> company, and forcing them to abandon a defence /bona fide/ claimed by
> them.
> 1894 P. L. Ford /Hon. Peter Stirling/ xli. 241   Then I can put the
> screws on him safely, you think?

Compare that to

http://goo.gl/Ad6kK
The New Excelsior Dictionary, Containing Every Useful Word in the
English Language. Nashua, NH: 1889
> *Screw.* /"Screw loose," /something wrong. To /"put screws to," /to
> compel by strong influences. To /"put on the screws," /to limit or
> restrain, equivalent to " put down the brakes."

The same definition is preserved in another of C. C. Parker's
dictionaries in 1897 http://goo.gl/w0vxn

Note the difference implied between "put screws to" and "pun on the
screws". Perhaps for another time, note the euphemistic interpretation
of "screw loose".

http://goo.gl/32gxC
The Presbyterian quarterly, Volume 7(23). Richmond, VA: January 1893
Review of The Evolution Op Christiantty. By /Lyman Abbott. /Boston and
New York: Houghton, Mifflin /& /Co. The Riverside Press, Cambridge,
1892. p. 127
> Dr. Abbott has put screws to the Bible and subjected it to a terrible
> strain to make it conform to his evolution theory. He explains many
> truths by explaining them away

http://goo.gl/gJeXK
Sunday School Times. Volume 32. July 12, 1890
Hints as to Interpretation of Scripture. John A. Brodus. By p. 434/3
> We reproach a politician who labors to explain the Constitution in
> some unnatural way to suit himself, a lawyer who deals likewise with
> the language he is reading from a law book, a business man who
> perverts the terms of a written contract; but still more blameworthy
> are we, if we know beforehand what we want this passage to mean, and
> then put screws to it that it may be forced into suiting our views and
> wishes.

http://goo.gl/OUcy1
Dick's Dutch, French and Yankee Dialect Recitations: A Collection of
Droll Dutch Blunders, Frenchmen's Funny Mistakes, and Ludicrous and
Extravagant Yankee Yarns. By William Brisbane Dick. New York: 1879
The Frenchman's Patent Screw. p. 135
> Now, sair, I have my revenge, my satisfaction.Pretty soon his friend
> come round de window, and say, 'Vat is dat? by gair, it is him! dat is
> him!' and den dey all begin to laugh, ha! ha! ha!--and pretty soon all
> de boys como round and git hold of de joke; and den dey begins at him
> ven dey meet him in de street--' Pattan screw! pattan screw! pattan
> screw!' And bimeby de man come to me wid all froth at his mouth, and
> say: 'Sair, vat you have done to put the screw to me? I shall take de
> law of you!'

http://goo.gl/eRbab
Annals of Cleveland - 1818 - 1935. Volume XX, Part 1. Cleveland
Newspaper Digest. WPA Project 16823. Cleveland, OH: 1937
Abstracts 1864-1870. p. 335
> 1865 - H&G July 11; ed:2/l - The mails are "sadly out of joint." No
> Pittsburgh news mail again today. Mr. Kendall must put "the screws" to
> contractors, or the west will soon set up for itself. We now hear from
> the eastern cities about once a week. (verbatim)

http://goo.gl/zs6c0
Memoranda of the life of Jenny Lind. By Nathaniel Parker Willis.
Philadelphia: 1851
Addendum. p. 232
> Then advanced the lady-beggars, who, in so many instances, have "put
> the screw to her" in the same way, that, without particularizing, we
> must describe them as a class.

http://goo.gl/sGdoU
Taylor and his generals: A biography of Major-General Zachary Taylor.
Philadelphia: 1847
A letter from an [unidentified] American at Point Isabel, May 26, 1846.
p. 83
> "The sutlers put the screws to the poor soldiers here at a cruel rate,
> in the way of charges. It is really outrageous, and should be looked
> to by those in power."

[Also quoted in a different biography of Taylor, from the same year.
http://goo.gl/J0REb ]

http://goo.gl/J0REb
The drama in Pokerville: The bench and bar of Jurytown, and other
stories. By "Everpoint". Philadelphia: 1843
What Was Built on the Great Small Affair Foundation. p. 89
> And wasn't the door thrown open, and the hall-chairs set back for the
> richest /kind /of a dress, shawl, &c., garbing as they did a really
> kind and benevolent creature; albeit she did certainly put the screws
> to the managers awfully during her "extraordinary successful
> engagements," which invariably closed the theatre for the rest of the
> season!

     VS-)

On 4/7/2012 12:52 PM, Joel S. Berson wrote:
> "Party Screws".  [Article headline.  The article is a complaint from
> a U.S. Representative about constant accosting and interrogating of
> members about whether they are for or against the administration.]
>
> Fayetteville Observer, (Fayetteville, NC) Thursday, January 05, 1854;
> Issue 259; col A   10th Century U.S. Newspapers
>
> Is this OED "screw, n.1, II. 17., U.S. College slang. (See quot.)"?
>     1851   B. H. Hall Coll. College Words 265   In some American
> colleges, an..unnecessarily minute, and annoying examination of a
> student by an instructor is called a screw. The instructor is often
> designated by the same name. An imperfect recitation is sometimes
> thus denominated.
>
> I didn't see anything else plausible.  But it's a long, long entry.
>
> Joel

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