criminal officer; torture chamber
Meanings
2 senses · 7 examplesnoun
(in former times) an official in charge of criminal cases and documents
archaicRefers to a specific clerical position in traditional yamen (government offices) during imperial China, responsible for criminal records and legal documents.
His grandfather once served as the criminal clerk in the county yamen.
This criminal clerk master handled all criminal cases in the entire county.
Show 1 more exampleShow fewer examples
The criminal clerk was a private advisor in the yamen responsible for criminal legal documents in olden times.
noun
a room or house for torture (often illegal)
Usually refers to illegal places where torture is conducted, often in the context of secret prisons or private detention facilities.
The enemy set up illegal torture chambers and brutally persecuted revolutionaries.
There was actually a secret torture room in this old mansion.
Show 2 more examplesShow fewer examples
They locked the person up in an illegally established torture chamber.
The novel described that gloomy torture room.