Winkle can refer to a type of sea snail, or to the action of extracting something with difficulty, likely originating from the effort involved in removing the snail from its shell.
Winkle can be a noun referring to a type of sea snail, or a verb meaning to extract something with effort or difficulty. The verb likely originates from the effort required to extract a periwinkle from its shell.
| Back | winkle /WING-kuhl/ |
|---|---|
| Front | noun A periwinkle, any of various mollusks with a spiral shell. verb tr. To extract with effort or difficulty. [For noun: Of uncertain origin. For verb: From the process of extracting a periwinkle from its shell with a pin for eating its meat. Earliest documented use: 1585.] Dougherty is a smart, pragmatic but deep-thinking cop who winkles out the truth by virtue of dogged police work.” - Declan Burke; Intricate Confessions, Historic Skeletons, Heartbreaking Tragedy; Irish Times (Dublin); Aug 29, 2015. |
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