flinch etymology

Etymology:

• Middle English flenchen (c. 1300), from Anglo-French flenchir, from Old French flenchir (12th century), from Latin flectere ("to bend, bow"), from Proto-Indo-European *plek- ("to weave, plait").

Meaning:

• To move or recoil suddenly and involuntarily in response to a sudden stimulus, especially fear or pain.
• To give way; to yield.
• To waver or hesitate.

Origin:

The word "flinch" originally referred to a physical movement of bending or shrinking away. It was first used figuratively in the 16th century to describe a sudden withdrawal or recoil from something unpleasant or threatening.

Over time, "flinch" has come to be used more broadly to refer to any sudden, involuntary reaction to something unexpected or unpleasant. It can be used to describe both physical and psychological reactions, such as jumping back from a loud noise or hesitating before approaching a dangerous situation.

flinch relate terms

• link

  Etymology The word link derives from the Middle Dutch word linc which means rope o

• lank

  Etymology The word lank is derived from the Middle English word lank which in turn

• flank

  Etymology Old English flænc side from Proto Germanic flaŋkaz flank Related to Go

• flinch

  Etymology Middle English flenchen c 1300 from Anglo French flenchir from Old Frenc

• unflinching

  Etymology Old English unflinc e nde present participle of unflincen un negati

• flinch

  Etymology Middle English flenchen c 1300 from Anglo French flenchir from Old Frenc

• squinch

  Etymology Late 18th century from obsolete squinch squincy meaning to squint di

• cringe

  Etymology of Cringe Cringe originates from the Middle English term cringen which f

• shrink

  Etymology Late Middle English from Middle Dutch schrinken variant of shrumpen from O

• start

  Etymology The word start has multiple etymologies depending on its usage Meaning

• move

  Etymology The word move is derived from the Middle English muven which in turn came

• recoil

  Etymology The word recoil has its origins in two French words reculer to move bac

• quail

  Etymology The word quail comes from the Old French word quaille which is derived fro

• wince

  Etymology The word wince comes from the Middle English word winchen which is a vari

• startle

  Etymology Middle English starten from Old English steortan to start leap rear up

• jump

  Etymology The word jump is derived from the Middle English word jumpen which in turn