Digital features men employed on decks as an alternative to Iron Maiden?
I believe the answer is:
thumbscrew
'iron maiden?' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both man-made objects as well as being singular nouns.
Perhaps you can see an association between them that I can't see?
I cannot understand how the remainder of the clue works.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for thumbscrew that I've seen before include "excruciating instrument" , "Instrument of torture (crushing the pollex)" , "That could be unpleasant!" , "agonised by it?" , "It puts the squeeze on" .)