Twinkle, twing′kl, v.i. to blink: to shine with a trembling, sparkling light: to sparkle: to open and shut the eyes rapidly: to quiver.—ns. Twink′le, Twink′ling, a quick motion of the eye: the time occupied by a wink: an instant: the scintillation of the fixed stars; Twink′ler. [A.S. twinclian.]
Twinter, twin′tėr, n. (Scot.) a beast two years old.
Twire, twīr, v.i. (obs.) to glance obliquely: (Shak.) to twinkle, to gleam—also Tweer.—n. a shy look. [Cf. Bavarian zwiren, to spy, glance. Cf. Queer and Thwart.]
Twire, twīr, v.t. (obs.) to twist, twirl. [Perh. conn. with A.S. thweran, to stir, churn; cf. Old High Ger. dweran, to stir.]
Twirk, twirk, n. (Scot.) a twitch.
Twirl, twėrl, v.t. to turn round rapidly, esp. with the fingers.—v.i. to turn round rapidly: to be whirled round.—n. a whirl: a rapid circular motion.—n. Twirl′er.—Twirl one's thumbs, to do nothing, be idle. [A.S. thwirel, a whisk for whipping milk—thweran, to churn, stir; Ger. quirl, querl, a stirring-spoon; cf. Ice. thvara, a stick for stirring, Gr. toryne, L. trua.]
Twissel, twis′l, adj. (obs.) double.—n. anything double.—adj. Twiss′el-tongued, double-tongued.
Twist, twist, v.t. to twine: to unite or form by winding together: to form from several threads: to encircle with something: to wreathe: to wind spirally: to turn from the true form or meaning: to fabricate, compose: to cause to move spirally, to bend: to wrest, wrench: to insinuate.—v.i. to be united by winding: to be bent, to move spirally: to revolve: to writhe.—n. that which is twisted: a cord: a single thread: manner of twisting: a contortion: a small roll of tobacco: a strong silk thread: (obs.) coarse cloth: a wrench, strain: a peculiar bent, perversion: (slang) a mixed drink, also an appetite for food.—adjs. Twist′able; Twist′ed.—n. Twīst′er, one who, or that which, twists: a whirling wind, a tornado: the inner part, of the thigh of a rider on horseback: a ball, as in cricket, billiards, &c., sent with a twist.—v.t. Twist′le (Scot.), to twist.—n. a wrench.—Twist of the wrist, the turning movement of the wrist in any work requiring dexterity, any quick action. [A.S. twist, a rope—twí-, two; Ger. zwist, discord.]
Twit, twit, v.t. to remind of some fault, &c.:—pr.p. twit′ting; pa.t. and pa.p. twit′ted.—n. a reproach.—n. Twit′ter.—adj. Twit′ting.—adv. Twit′tingly, in a twitting manner. [A.S. æt-witan, to reproach—æt, against, witan (Scot. wyte, Ger. ver-weisen), to blame.]
Twitch, twich, v.t. to pull with a sudden jerk: to pluck: to snatch.—v.i. to be suddenly jerked: to move spasmodically: to carp, sneer.—n. a sudden, quick pull: a spasmodic contraction of the muscles: a loop fixed to a stick for fixing on the upper lip of a refractory horse during shoeing, &c.: the sudden narrowing almost to nothing of a vein of ore.—ns. Twitch′er; Twitch′ing. [A.S. twiccian, to pluck; Ger. zwicken.]