choke pear

English

Etymology

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Spikeless Pear, Museum der Festung Salzburg, Österreich

Noun

choke pear (plural choke pears)

1. A metal torture device to be inserted into the body, consisting of a usually pear-shaped piece divided into spoon-like segments that can be spread apart by turning a screw.
2. A kind of pear with a rough, astringent taste, difficult to swallow.
3. (archaic) A sarcasm by which one is put to silence; anything that cannot be answered.
   • 1748, [Samuel Richardson], Clarissa. Or, The History of a Young Lady: […], volumes (please specify |volume=I to VII), London: […] S[amuel] Richardson;  […], →OCLC:

     I believe I have given her a choke-pear.

Synonyms

• (torture device): pear, pear of anguish, Pope's pear

Translations

a metal torture device

• Finnish: tuskan päärynä
• French: poire d’angoisse (fr) f

Further reading

• Choke pear (torture) on Wikipedia.Wikipedia