corkscrew

1. a device for drawing corks from bottles, typically consisting of a pointed metal spiral attached to a handle or screw mechanism

2. Boxing slang a blow that ends with a twist of the fist, esp one intended to cut the opponent

Collins Discovery Encyclopedia, 1st edition © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

corkscrew

i. The action or performance of an airplane following a flight path resembling a corkscrew, as in a spiral or a tailspin. Specifically, an evasive maneuver performed in an airplane in which the plane is made to turn sharply right and left, alternately.
ii. A defensive maneuver executed effectively and widely by bombers during World War II. On sighting the enemy fighter, the bomber was made to immediately dive sharply and turn to either the port or star-board. In this process, it lost height and gained speed. The bomber was then pulled up into a climb, reversing its direction of turn once the aircraft had regained half the lost altitude, so that by the time the original altitude and course had been regained the bomber's speed had fallen by about half the amount it had gained in the dive. This resulted in the enemy fighter overshooting its target, especially if it tried to match the bomber's turn. The maneuver was repeated, if required. It was akin to a modern-day yo-yo.

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References in periodicals archive

When the use of wine bottles became universal in the mid-18th century, the development and refinement of the corkscrew as we know it today began in earnest using exactly the same technique.

UNEXPECTED TWISTS

Results: Six tibia and 14 femurs were operated using corkscrew tipped telescopic nails.

The Results of the Treatment of Osteogenesis Imperfecta with Corkscrew Tipped Telescopic Nail/Osteogenezis Imperfektali Olgularda Tirbu[thorn]on Uclu Teleskopik Civi ile Tedavi Sonuclari

Early vitamin C deficiency presents with nonspecific symptoms, such as malaise, fatigue, and lethargy, followed by the development of anemia, myalgia, bone pain, easy bruising, edema, petechiae, perifollicular hemorrhages, corkscrew hairs, gingivitis, poor wound healing, and mood changes.

Perifollicular petechiae and easy bruising

She said she had picked up a corkscrew at the shrine, and had it when she attacked Ms Gahgan.

Woman jailed after Hillman revenge attack; VICTIM WAS BLAMED FOR DAD-OF-THREE'S DEATH

But the Palaeocastor's corkscrew chambers set it apart from all other known burrowing mammals, which generally tunnel straight down into the earth.

The beaver that didn't give a dam: solving the mystery of the ancient Palaeocastor

A wine opener with style, and oodles of it, is Anna G, the corkscrew from Alessi, with her smiling face, quirky haircut, and vintage dress.

raise a glass

I'm just wild about natural look MUM-of-two Leanne Donovan knows all about corkscrew curls - she's embraced them all her life.

Here come the curls; As Nicole Kidman embraces her natural hairstyle at last, here's how to get the best out of your own corkscrew tresses

When coiled into tight corkscrews, the fibers can lift loads more than 100 times as heavy as those hefted by human muscles.

Making artificial muscles with a spin

Porte had failed to go with Evans (BMC) up Corkscrew Hill during Thursday's third stage as the 2011 Tour de France champion claimed the ochre jersey.

Thomas delight at Porte stage win

The collection includes a variety of versatile and functional wine openers and accessories, including a waiter's corkscrew, a winged corkscrew, a self-pulling corkscrew, a pointer/stopper and a bottle stopper.

Lifetime's Savora line branches into barware

A FRIGHTENED victim ran into traffic to escape a man wielding a corkscrew following a dispute over the sale of a puppy, a court heard.

Corkscrew fright man sent to jail

Washington, May 29 (ANI): An engineer in Cumberland, Wisconsin has successfully built an omni directional, all-terrain rover with corkscrew "wheels."

Now, corkscrew-drive robot to easily roam rough terrain