pincers
UK: ˈpɪnsəz | US: ˈpɪnsərz
n. a tool with two hinged arms and grasping ends, used for gripping or cutting
n. the claw-like appendages of certain animals (e.g., crabs, scorpions)
pincers = pinc<to pinch> + ers<agent noun suffix>
- pinc (from Old French pincier "to pinch," ultimately from Vulgar Latin pinctiare, meaning "to squeeze or nip")
- ers (agentive suffix indicating a tool or device, derived from Old French -eor/-eur)
Etymology Origin:
The word pincers traces back to Old French pincier ("to pinch"), influenced by Latin pinctiare. The suffix -ers (via Old French -eor) denotes a tool, giving the modern sense of "a pinching device." The term evolved to describe both tools and animal claws, emphasizing their shared function of gripping or cutting.
The blacksmith used pincers to hold the hot metal.
Crab pincers can deliver a painful pinch.
She carefully removed the nail with a pair of pincers.
The lobster’s pincers are strong enough to crack shells.
He tightened the pincers to cut the wire cleanly.