pincers

• POS: Noun Plural
• HYPHEN: pin=cers

CIDE DICTIONARY

pincers, n. pl. [Cf. F. pince pinchers, fr. pincer to pinch. See Pinch, Pinchers.].

 See Pinchers.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

pincers, n.pl.
1 (also pair of pincers) a gripping-tool resembling scissors but with blunt usu. concave jaws to hold a nail etc. for extraction.
2 the front claws of lobsters and some other crustaceans.

Idiom

pincer movement Mil. a movement by two wings of an army converging on the enemy.

Etymology

ME pinsers, pinsours f. AF f. OF pincier PINCH

THESAURUS

pincers

alum, aspirator, astringent, clamp, claws, clutches, compressor, constrictor, contractor, corkscrew, crowbar, digits, extractor, fangs, fingernails, fingers, forceps, hands, hooks, jaws, mandibles, maxillae, meathooks, mitts, nails, nippers, palm, pincer, pipette, pliers, pounces, press, pump, separator, siphon, styptic, styptic pencil, talons, teeth, tweezers, unguals, ungulae, vacuum pump, vise, wringer

ROGET THESAURUS

pincers

Retention

N retention, retaining, keep, detention, custody, tenacity, firm hold, grasp, gripe, grip, iron grip, fangs, teeth, claws, talons, nail, unguis, hook, tentacle, tenaculum, bond, clutches, tongs, forceps, pincers, nippers, pliers, vice, paw, hand, finger, wrist, fist, neaf, neif, bird in hand, captive, retaining, retentive, tenacious, unforfeited, undeprived, undisposed, uncommunicated, incommunicable, inalienable, in mortmain, in strict settlement, uti possidetis.