Now dial. [? ad. LG. wriggen to twist or turn, an imitative word of the same type as wrikken; see WRICK v.1]
† 1. trans. To twist or bend (some flexible object) about; to cause to writhe or wriggle. Obs.
a. 1529. Skelton, E. Rummyng, 177. The bore his tayle wrygges … Agaynst the hye benche.
1642. H. More, Song of Soul, II. II. ii. 37. Thus worms in sturdie pride Do wrigge and wrest their parts divorc’d by knife.
† 2. To turn aside; to divert. Obs.–1
1582. Stanyhurst, Æneis, III. (Arb.), 88. First thee pilot Palinure thee steerd ship wrigs to the lifthand.
3. intr. To move sinuously or writhingly; to wriggle, writhe. Now dial.
1599. T. Cutwode, Caltha Poet., xxxi. B 6. The Bay tree … seems to sigh … And with the wanton wind to wrig & wreath, against the god.
1854. Miss Baker, Northampton Gloss., 408. The child’s allus wrigging about.
1881. Leicester Gloss., s.v.
