pinch etymology

Etymology:

• Middle English: pinchen, from Old French pincier, from Latin pincere "to pinch"
• The ultimate origin is believed to be Proto-Indo-European *piŋk-, meaning "to press, squeeze"

Meaning and Origin:

• To grasp or press something firmly between the fingers or thumb and finger, typically causing it to be squeezed or hurt
• Originating in the mid-14th century, the word "pinch" was first used in the sense of "to press or squeeze with the fingers" (1340s).
• It later extended to mean "to cause a sharp pain by pinching" (1540s) and "to cause discomfort or annoyance" (1620s).
• The figurative sense of "a small amount" (1709) developed from the notion of "a pinch of something," referring to a small quantity held between the fingers.

pinch relate terms

• pinch

  Etymology Middle English pinchen from Old French pincier from Latin pincere to pinc

• pince nez

  Etymology Pince nez is a French phrase meaning pinch nose It is derived from the ve

• pinch

  Etymology Middle English pinchen from Old French pincier from Latin pincere to pinc

• touch

  Etymology Middle English touchin from Old French toucher from Latin tangere meanin

• hint

  Etymology Old English hynt Middle English hent Meaning A suggestion or clue that

• mite

  Etymology The word mite comes from the Old English word mite which in turn is deriv

• twinge

  Etymology The word twinge has its origins in Old English twegen meaning two w

• cram

  Etymology The word cram comes from the Middle English verb crammyn which in turn co

• prong

  Etymology The word prong is derived from the Old English word prong which is of Ger

• speck

  Etymology Old English specca piece of fat lard bacon Proto Germanic spekkaz Proto

• squeeze

  Etymology The word squeeze comes from the Middle English word squisen which is in t

• grip

  Etymology of Grip The word grip has multiple origins Old Norse grípa meaning