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winkle

noun
win·​kle | \ ˈwiÅ‹-kÉ™l How to pronounce winkle (audio) \

Definition of winkle

 (Entry 1 of 3)

: periwinkle entry 2

winkle

verb (1)
winkled; winkling\ ˈwiÅ‹-​k(É™-​)liÅ‹ How to pronounce winkling (audio) \

Definition of winkle (Entry 2 of 3)

intransitive verb

: twinkle

winkle

verb (2)
winkled; winkling\ ˈwiÅ‹-​k(É™-​)liÅ‹ How to pronounce winkling (audio) \

Definition of winkle (Entry 3 of 3)

transitive verb

1 chiefly British : to displace, remove, or evict from a position —usually used with out
2 chiefly British : to obtain or draw out by effort —usually used with out no attempt to winkle out why they do it— Joan Bakewell
Winkle and WWI Example Sentences Learn More about winkle

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Winkle and WWI

If you have ever extracted a winkle from its shell, then you understand how the verb winkle came to be. The word winkle is short for periwinkle, the name of a marine or freshwater snail. Periwinkle is ultimately derived from Latin pina, the name of a mussel, and Old English wincle, a snail shell. Evidently the personnel of World War I's Allied Powers found their duty of finding and removing the enemy from the trenches analogous to extracting a well-entrenched snail and began using winkle to describe their efforts. The action of "winkling the enemy out" was later extended to other situations, such as "winkling information out of someone."

Examples of winkle in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

 Use the Sunbeam Versa Glide to get out those pesky winkles without the hassle of the cord or use it with the cord for longer periods of steam and heat without placing it back on the base. — Sarah Bogdan, Good Housekeeping, "5 Best Cordless Irons to Buy in 2019, According to Cleaning Experts," 15 Feb. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'winkle.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of winkle

Noun

1585, in the meaning defined above

Verb (1)

1791, in the meaning defined above

Verb (2)

1918, in the meaning defined at sense 1

History and Etymology for winkle

Noun

by shortening

Verb (1)

frequentative of wink

Verb (2)

winkle entry 1; from the process of extracting a winkle from its shell

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More from Merriam-Webster on winkle

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with winkle

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for winkle

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