sb. pl. Sc. Also 7 thumbe-, 7–8 thummi-, 7–9 thumkins, 8–9 thumbikens. [f. THUMB + -i)kin dim. suffix: cf. CUTIKIN.] = THUMB-SCREW 2.
1684. Reg. Privy Council Scotl., 23 July. Whereas … ther is now a new inventione and Ingyne called the thumbekins … [the Lords] ordaine that when any persone shall be (by ther order) put to torture that the said thumbekins or bootes or both be applyed to them.
1684. (Aug. 7) Fountainhall, Hist. Notices (Bann. Cl.), 548. Spence … is again tortured, and his thumbs crushed with pilliwincks or thumbikins: It’s a new invention … discovered by Generalls Dalzeell and Drummond, they having seene them used in Musco[vy].
1690. in M. Napier, Visct. Dundee (1860), II. 119. Nevil Pain … put to the torture of the thumbkins, and of the boot upon one leg before the thumbkins were taken off.
1715. Carstairs, Lett., in Wodrow, Hist. Ch. Scot., III. viii. (1722), II. 389. The King’s Smith was called in [5 Sept. 1684], to bring in a new Instrument to torture by the Thumbkins, that had never been used before…. And under this Torture I continued near an Hour and a Half.
1793. Statist. Acc. Scot., V. 583. Greenock, [He] has in his possession the identical thumbikins, with which the Principal [Carstairs] was severely tortured.
1818. Scott, Hrt. Midl., x. Dread of bloody rope … pain of boots and thumkins.
