corkscrew
UK[ˈkɔːkskruː]US[ˈkɔːrkskruː]
n
A device for pulling corks out of bottles, consisting of a pointed metal spiral attached to a handle.
v
To move or twist in a spiral or winding path.
Morpheme Breakdown
cork
screw
cork
screw
Etymology
The word 'corkscrew' is a transparent English compound, formed in the late 17th century from the nouns 'cork' and 'screw'. 'Cork', the bark of the cork oak, entered English from Spanish and Portuguese trade terms, tracing back to the Latin quercus (oak). 'Screw', denoting a helical fastener, has a more obscure path from Old French, possibly from a Germanic root for 'groove' or 'notch'. The compound's logic is perfectly literal: it is a screw (a spiral device) designed specifically for extracting corks. The verb sense, describing a twisting motion, is a later metaphorical extension from the tool's action.
Analysis
Structure: cork + screw
- cork: (Origin: From Latin quercus via Spanish alcorque and later Middle English cork. Role: The material/substance the tool is designed for.)
- screw: (Origin: From Old French escroue, likely of Germanic origin. Role: The mechanical component/action describing the tool's spiral form and function.)
Examples
He used a corkscrew to open the bottle of wine.
The narrow road corkscrews up the mountainside.
She found a vintage corkscrew with a wooden handle in the drawer.