The word screw has many uses in the English language and also hold a variety of different meanings.  The Oxford English Dictionary defines screw as "to tighten; to press or force by means of a screw; or to extort by pressure."  The most common image or gesture that one thinks of when first hearing this word usually deals with the repeated motion that one uses to tighten a screw with a screwdriver.  Since this is the basis of where most of the definitions were derived, this basic expression of screw is very important.  This definition deals with screw as a tool or a mechanical device that tightens an object to something else.  Most of the definitions of screw deal with this basic thought.  By this I mean that nearly all the forms of screw deal with a sense of turning or tightening in one form or another.  From this definition, which originated during the 1500's, many other meanings and uses arose for this word.  These definitions are also defined in the Oxford English Dictionary, which I will elaborate further in the paper.

         In the Oxford English Dictionary, screw was recorded to be first used in 1570 as a mathematical term by the mathematician Dee.  Screw, according to Dee, was considered one of the mechanical powers in the mechanical theory, for it was used as a modification of the inclined plane.  He stated, "For, in many things, the screw worketh the feat, which else could not be performed."  The source of this definition was never explained in the OED, therefore the meaning can merely be assumed.  It probably derives from the definition that expresses "the ability to secure down or to be secure."  His idea was that the screw secured his belief about the inclined plane, similar to the way that a screw secures an object.  Though, it is not often I hear one say, "If it was not for the screw, I would have never been able to accomplish the assignment."  This use of the word is more outdated.   Though, the idea that a screw will secure something still holds true, but the idea as it was expressed above in my previous example is not common in today's language.

         Many slang terms have also derived by using screw and its meanings.  The American Slang dictionary has multiple definitions for screw.  One of them, define screw as "a foolish or forgetful person."  A person of this nature is said to be screwy, or a screwball.  A common reference to this sort of person would be, "He/ she is a real screwball!"  Another phrase I hear used very often is something along the lines of, "What is wrong with her?  She is cting screwy.  Is she always like that?"  The origins of these two meanings of screw came from a British slang used during the 1800's.  The word screwy in those days was used to describe a drunk person.  This describes the manner of how a screwy person would be acting: loud, forgetful, and silly.  Now, knowing the origin of how the word screwy came about, I can better understand what it actually means when one directs "being screwy" to a person.  Another similar slang that developed in 1611, is the phrase "having ones head screwed on right or the right way."  This is implying the ability to use one's brains to their own advantage (OED).  This definition is still commonly used and very popular when describing a dense or forgetful person.  The OED gives the synonym nut for this phrase.  Although, what they meant by nut was never defined.  In doing this, it leaves an unclear picture in our minds of what they are trying to say.  One slang that originated for nut was used to describe people with mental problems or lacking certain mental faculties.  The word Nut-house was used to describe a Mental Institute.  This may give a clearer meaning to the definition of "having ones head screwed on the right way" as meant by the OED.  However, I use this phrase to describe my sister, though I do not consider her a nut in the sense that the OED defines it.  She is very bright and intelligent, yet she is very dense, forgetful, and silly.  Therefore, this slang form, as defined in the OED, is not the only way to use the phrase.  The meaning has changed somewhat over the years, creating multiple meanings for this slang.  Today, the phrase "having one's head screw on the right way" is not always used to describe a mentally challenged person.  It more commonly refers to a forgetful, dense, or silly person.

         My definition of the word screw differs from the other many meanings this word holds.  When I say screw,I tend to use it in the phrase "to screw up."  This is one of the popular slang versions of screw.  This implies, to make a mistake, blunder, or error: to disturb mentally.  A good example of this would be, "I really screwed up by not studying for the mid-term ahead of time.  I waited until the last minute to do it!"  In my opinion, using screw to mean a mistake is, by far, the most common slang usage of today.  Screw was first used in literature with this meaning in 1943 by M. Hart.

         Over time, the phrase "screw up" developed many new meanings.  It was first used by William Shakespeare in the early 1500's.  He used this phrase in MacBeth when he wrote, "We fail?  But screw your courage to the sticking place."  The origin of this clearly comes from the meaning "to tighten/ stick to something you believe."  A modern example of this would be "to screw to your morals."  Though today is more common to say stick, cling, or fix, rather than screw.  This simply implies the attachment of certain personal qualities to a person, whether it be courage, sadness, happiness, or understanding.  An example of another meaning of this word is by a writer named Holcroft.  He uses the phrase "to screw" to mean "to compress the waist," which is also defined by the OED.  His example comes from the book Tales of Castle, where he states "...to be screwed up 'til she could scarcely breathe."  With this meaning, screwed means "tightened," though, today tied or bound is commonly used in its place.

         Yet another common use of the phrase to be (or get) screwed, meaning "to cheat or deceive."   This is another very popular slang meaning of screw which was used for the first time in literature in the year 1900 by a writer named Steinbeck.  "What you want to strike for?  'Cause we're gettin' screwed..." (OED).  Screw, to this effect, is often used when describing a bad or unpleasant situation.  Some ways I have used this slang are, "I was screwed out of the position for no good reason," or, my personal favorite, "I cannot believe he screwed me over like that!  I thought I knew him. I thought I could trust him!"  These are all ways of showing how one can be cheated or deceived.

         There is a common, but even less appropriate way to direct screw as a slang, which is towards a woman in a suggestive manner.   This meaning implies to the sexual intercourse between two partners in a hasty or casual way.  A woman that commits to something of this nature is considered a screw.  In this sense, a woman is sexually promiscuous or considered one who sleeps around.  This can also be referred to as "getting screwed."  This is the activity of being promiscuous or the sexual act itself.  The definition was taken from the OED, and at the time it was defined it was meant to refer to only a woman.  This originated in 1725, when women were known to work as a hooker for money.  Women with this kind of career or pastime were usually the ones who were referred to as such.  Men were never given this name because of the time period in which it originated.  Nowadays, this phrase can be used to describe a man or a woman that participates in these activities.  In 1725, this meaning was attributed to screw and added to the New Canting Dictionary to mean "a common prostitute or sexual partner."  Though, it was not used in literature until 1927 when the author O.W. Holmes first used screw with this meaning.

         Over the past few decades, screw has been used very often in place of vulgar words, obscenities, or cursing.  This slang usage derived from the previous example, meaning a prostitute or a screw.  This is because a screw, or prostitute, had been referred to in a dirty and vulgar manner which carried on through the years to be parallel with most other forms of vulgarity (OED).  Some of the ways we tend to use screw to hide vulgarity could be when one says, "Screw this!"  This is usually said when I get frustrated with a person, a situation, or with something that I have been trying to accomplish.  When I get annoyed, instead of shouting out obscenities, I use screw interchangeably in its place.  Another very common form or this is, "Go screw yourself!"  When I use this one, it is usually directed, with a very angry tone, to a person who has upset me or during an argument.  This is usually accompanied with a loud voice, yelling, and waving of the arms.  Both of these phrases are used to describe something or someone that is acting up in a disturbing or frustrating manner.

         From the research I have done for this paper, I have learned a great deal about the history of language and how slang words develop.  Most of the literal meanings that come out of the dictionary, deal with the same basic idea of tightening or securing something of value.  Though, some of the meanings are considered slang definitions merely because they do not follow that basic format.  I believe that many of the slangs definitions have already been admitted into Standard English because of their frequency of use and acceptance.  However, they are not defined in the standard dictionaries; therefore, they are still considered slangs.  The slang definition that I ultimately think should be added to our Standard English would be my definition of screw, which again I define as to make a mistake or error.  I consider this definition to be more important than some of the other slang definitions, simply because it is not vulgar, rude, suggestive, or dirty.  On the other hand screw meaning "a prostitute," or the phrase that states, "Go screw yourself," does not fit the criteria to be considered an acceptable dictionary definition.  These are slang definitions only because they can be offensive or suggestive to a person.  Though, because of their use and acceptance in society, I see no reason why they are not admitted to standard English, along with my definition.  Today in society there is little distinction between some of the literal and slang meaning because they are both used so broadly.  The forms of screw that are considered offensive to society or do not follow the standard dictionary meaning, are usually the definitions that are considered a slang to society.   As one can see, my opinion on this subject is that if the terms are used by society, understood, and accepted, then each of the meanings should be added to Standard American English.

         From this research, I have found that screw has many important and very diverse meanings.  Yet, not all of these meanings are considered a part of the Standard American language.  This may make you think, what does screw mean to you?  Is the definition you choose considered a slang?  More than likely this is the case.  Have you ever tried to find out why your definition was not a part of our Standard English?  Hence, when all is done and everything is considered, the real question is then, what really does make up our language?