Why are wages called "screw"? The word "screw" has nothing to do with the mechanical contrivance used for holding; supporting and fastening objects; although wages have been a means of support since the days of feudalism. The origin apparently comes from a 19th century custom of putting wages into a small piece of paper and screwing the ends up to form a receptacle to secure the coins. It was the forerunner of the present pay envelope; which was invented by a Paris stationer about a century ago. The word had common usage before 1859 - metal screws were mass produced about 1854. Illustration for one of a set of 50 "Do You Know?" cigarette cards issued by Carreras in 1939.