from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Twinge \Twinge\ (tw[i^]nj), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Twinged}
(tw[i^]njd); p. pr. & vb. n. {Twinging}.] [OE. twengen, AS.
twengan; akin to OE. twingen to pain, afflict, OFries.
thwinga, twinga, dwinga, to constrain, D. dwingen, OS.
thwingan, G. zwingen, OHG. dwingan, thwingan, to press,
oppress, overcome, Icel. [thorn]vinga, Sw. tvinga to subdue,
constrain, Dan. tvinge, and AS. [thorn]["u]n to press, OHG.
d[=u]hen, and probably to E. thong. Perhaps influenced by
twitch. Cf. {Thong}.]
1. To pull with a twitch; to pinch; to tweak.
[1913 Webster]
When a man is past his sense,
There's no way to reduce him thence,
But twinging him by the ears or nose,
Or laying on of heavy blows. --Hudibras.
[1913 Webster]
2. To affect with a sharp, sudden pain; to torment with
pinching or sharp pains.
[1913 Webster]
The gnat . . . twinged him [the lion] till he made
him tear
himself, and so mastered him. --L'Estrange.
[1913 Webster]