Archimedes' screw

American  

Or Archimedean screw

noun

1. a device consisting essentially of a spiral passage within an inclined cylinder for raising water to a height when rotated.

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Archimedes' screw British  

/ ˌɑːkɪˈmiːdɪən, -mɪˈdiːən /

noun

1. 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

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Etymology

Origin of Archimedes' screw

First recorded in 1860–65

Example Sentences

“Ubiquitous in civil engineering applications, Archimedes’ screw has never formed the basis of a theme-park waterslide.”

From Scientific American • Dec. 22, 2013

And on sweltering days, there is also the Water Lab, which has floor jets and a giant Archimedes’ screw that lets children move water from the reservoir below up the screw.

From New York Times • Jul. 1, 2010

Some authorities justify the omission of the possessive s when the next word begins with s, as in Archimedes' screw, Achilles' sword.

From Slips of Speech : a Helpful Book for Everyone Who Aspires to Correct the Everyday Errors of Speaking by Bechtel, John Hendricks

The "Egyptian screw" was Archimedes' screw, and was thus called because much used by the Egyptians for irrigation.

From De Re Metallica, Translated from the First Latin Edition of 1556 by Agricola, Georgius