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screwed

The origin and history of screwed.

Etymology

Grew out of "screw" meaning to apply pressure or coercion, evoking torture devices like thumbscrews — by the 1600s it meant being in an inescapable bind. The "drunk" sense followed later, linked to the phrase "a screw loose."

· First attested 1600

Class of 1600

screwed first entered the language around 1600. Other words from the same year:

See the full Class of 1600 →
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Etymology: FreeDict original editorial.