winkle
[ wing-kuhl ]
/ ˈwɪŋ kəl /
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noun
any of various marine gastropods; periwinkle1.
verb (used with object), win·kled, win·kling.
Informal. to pry (something) out of a place, as winkle meat is dug out of its shell with a pin (usually followed by out).
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Origin of winkle
First recorded in 1575–85; short for periwinkle1
Words nearby winkle
Winiwarter-Buerger disease, wink, wink at, Winkelried, winker, winkle, winkle-pickers, wink reflex, winlestrae, winnable, winnard
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Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
Example sentences from the Web for winkle
British Dictionary definitions for winkle
winkle
/ (ˈwɪŋkəl) /
noun
See periwinkle 1
verb
(tr; usually foll by out, out of, etc) informal, mainly British to extract or prise out
Word Origin for winkle
C16: shortened from periwinkle 1
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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