squinch etymology

Etymology:

• Late 18th century: from obsolete squinch, *squincy (meaning "to squint") + diminutive suffix *-ch.

Meaning:

• An arch or vault that connects two curved walls, typically used to support a dome or tower.

Origin:

The earliest known use of the term "squinch" in English is from the architectural writer John Soane, in his book "Designs for Public and Private Buildings" (1828). Soane believed that the term was derived from the French word "échine" (meaning "spine"), but this etymology is not supported by any linguistic evidence.

Another possible origin for the term is the Italian word "squincia" (meaning "to squint"), which may have been used to describe the arch's sloping or "squinting" appearance. However, this etymology is also difficult to prove conclusively.

Ultimately, the exact origin of the term "squinch" remains uncertain.

squinch relate terms

• squint

  Etymology The word squint is derived from the Old English word squintan meaning to

• asquint

  Etymology Middle English asquint from Old French asquint or esquint from Vulgar Lati

• flinch

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

• 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

• 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

• move

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

• stoop

  Etymology The word stoop has Old English origins deriving ultimately from the Proto Ge

• wince

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

• bend

  Etymology The word bend has multiple etymological origins Old English bendan to