archimedean screw
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
An endless screw, used for raising water, etc., invented by Archimedes.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “archimedean screw” mean?
An endless screw, used for raising water, etc., invented by Archimedes.
Is “archimedean screw” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.