a gripping tool consisting of two hinged arms with handles at one end and, at the other, curved bevelled jaws that close on the workpiece: used esp for extracting nails
2.
the pair or pairs of jointed grasping appendages in lobsters and certain other arthropods
Word origin
C14: from Old French pinceour, from Old French pincier to pinch
pincers in American English
(ˈpɪnsərz)
plural noun
1.
a tool with two parts pivoted together to form two handles and two jaws, used in gripping or nipping things
2. Zoology
a grasping claw, as of a crab or lobster; chela
Derived forms
pincerlike (ˈpincerˌlike)
adjective
Word origin
ME pinsours < OFr pincier, to pinch
Examples of 'pincers' in a sentence
pincers
He attacked me from behind again, this time with his pincers.
Secombe, Fred GOODBYE CURATE (2001)
Often the Stilken will have great hooks or pincers in the place of forearms, which it uses with facility to seize its prey.
Garth Nix LIRAEL: DAUGHTER OF THE CLAYR (2001)
Mason had turned back to face the man who stood, straight and still, in the doorway, the folder clasped in the pincers of his claws.
Pickard, Nancy NO BODY (2001)
Her body began to shake as if her soul were being shredded by white-hot pincers.