pincers

or pinch·ers

[ pin-serz or pin-cherz ]
/ ˈpɪn sərz or ˈpɪn tʃərz /

noun (usually used with a plural verb)

a gripping tool consisting of two pivoted limbs forming a pair of jaws and a pair of handles (usually used with pair of).
Zoology. a grasping organ or pair of organs resembling this, as the claw of a lobster.

Origin of pincers

1300–50; Middle English pinsers, earlier pynceours, plural of *pinceour < Anglo-French pince(r) to pinch + -our -or2

Example sentences from the Web for pincers

British Dictionary definitions for pincers

pincers
/ (ˈpɪnsəz) /

pl n

Also called: pair of pincers 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
the pair or pairs of jointed grasping appendages in lobsters and certain other arthropods

Word Origin for pincers

C14: from Old French pinceour, from Old French pincier to pinch

Scientific definitions for pincers

pincers
[ pĭnsərz ]

A jointed grasping claw of certain animals, such as lobsters and scorpions.