winkle

(wiŋ′kəl)

noun

periwinkle
any of various gastropod mollusks that are very destructive to oysters and clams

transitive verb winkled, winkling

Informal to pry or rout from cover, secrecy, etc.: with out, out of, etc.

Origin: < ?

See winkle in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun
Zoology

A periwinkle.

transitive verb win·kled, win·kling, win·kles
Chiefly British

To pry, extract, or force from a place or position. Often used with out.

Origin:

Origin: From winkle¹ (from the process of extracting periwinkles from their shells)

Learn more about winkle

winkle in a sentence

link/cite print suggestion box

More from YD