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Skevington’s Daughter

,

corrupted into Scavenger’s Daughter, was an instrument of torture invented by Skevington, lieutenant of the Tower under Henry VIII. It consisted of a broad hoop of iron in two parts, fastened together by a hinge. The victim was made to kneel while the hoop was passed under his legs; he was then squeezed gradually till the hoop could be got over his back, where it was fastened.

 

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Entry taken from Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, edited by the Rev. E. Cobham Brewer, LL.D. and revised in 1895.

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Sixes and Sevens (All)
Sixteen-string Jack
Sizar
Sizings
Skains-mate or Skeins-mate
Skald
Skedaddle
Skeggs
Skeleton
Skeleton Jackets
Skevington’s Daughter
Skibbereen and Connemara (in Ireland)
Skibbereen Eagle (The)
Skid
Skiddaw
Skied
Skillygolee
Skimble-Skamble
Skimmington
Skin
Skin a Flint