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flinch

noun

No English definition recorded for this entry.

L320752 on Wikidata ↗

verb

  1. to make a sudden small movement
L331728 on Wikidata ↗

Wiktionary

Pronunciation: /ˈflɪnt͡ʃ/ / [ˈfl̥ɪnt͡ʃ]

noun

Etymology: From Middle French flenchir (“to bend”), of Germanic origin. Compare Middle High German lenken (“to bend”). Attested in English since the 16th century.

  1. A reflexive jerking away.

    My eye doctor hates the flinch I have every time he tries to get near my eyes.

  2. The slipping of the foot from a ball, when attempting to give a tight croquet.

verb

  1. Alternative form of flense.