Archimedes' screw
or Archimedean screw
noun
a device consisting essentially of a spiral passage within an inclined cylinder for raising water to a height when rotated.
Also called
water snail.
Origin of Archimedes' screw
First recorded in 1860–65
British Dictionary definitions for archimedes' screw
Archimedes' screw
Archimedean screw
/ (ˌɑːkɪˈmiːdɪən, -mɪˈdiːən) /
noun
an ancient type of water-lifting device making use of a spiral passage in an inclined cylinder. The water is raised when the spiral is rotated