Corkscrew
Definition - What does Corkscrew mean?
A corkscrew is used to remove a cork from a wine bottle. It consists of a helix, which when turned, spirals into to the cork. Its other basic component is a handle used to pull the cork up and out of the bottle. New and modern corkscrews use levers and are designed to require minimum effort. Given the widespread use of cork stoppers to seal wine bottles, corkscrews have become a common wine accessory.
WineFrog explains Corkscrew
Corkscrews originated from England and were originally used to open beer and cider bottles. Though there are literary references to corkscrews that date back to 1676, Reverend Samuel Henshall cemented the first patent in 1795 after he invented a disk, the Henshall Button, which prevented the screw from going too deep into the cork and allowed it to be twisted for removal.
Since a cork is fixed firmly to the opening of bottles, it is very difficult to remove it by hand. The coil of a corkscrew is designed to easily spiral through the cork, and its spiral design holds the cork in place when pulled upward, popping it out of the bottle. In more modern corkscrews, like the wing corkscrew, levers attached on two sides can remove the cork in one motion. Other popular types of corkscrews include the sommelier knife (Wine Key), the twin-prong cork puller, the lever corkscrew and mountain corkscrew.
