Why are prison wardens are often referred to by inmates as 'screws?'

mochyn

from an activity the prisoners we made to do by the warders http://www.bhikku.net/archives/02/mar02.html Mar 11 03, 9:14 PM

Tabby Tom

The Oxford English Dictionary, Partridge's Dictionary of Slang and Unconventional English and Cassell's Dictionary of Slang all say that in the late 18th century 'screw' was slang for a skeleton key, and they suggest that 'screw' for a prison officer is derived from this sense. They don't explain why, but presumably a prison officer would have a master key to the cells that he looked after. And a key is 'screwed' into a lock, hence the original use of 'screw' for a skeleton key. Mar 11 03, 9:44 PM