Forms: 5 twynk, 5–6 twynke, 6–7 twinke, 7 twinck(e, 7 twinch, 6– twink. [f. TWINK v.1]

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  1.  A winking of the eye; transf. the time taken by this; a twinkling; now always in phrase in a twink; formerly at, in, with (a or the) twink of an eye; also with a twink; in the think of a bedstick: cf. BEDSTAFF.

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14[?].  Cov. Corp. Chr. Plays, I. 506. Myne enmyis to vanquese … And with a twynke of myn iee not won to be lafte alyve.

3

1471.  Ripley, Comp. Alch., Pref. ii., in Ashm., Theatr. Chem. Brit. (1652), 127. In twynke of an Eye most sodenly.

4

1556.  J. Heywood, Spider & F., lii. A a iv. (heading), Wherat with twynke of an iye (as it were) the head spider … hath builded a strong castell in that copweb. Ibid., xci. Oo iv b. Change (by chance) brought him (at twinke of an iye) From twig top of the tree, at the rote to lie.

5

1561.  Norton & Sackv., Gorboduc, IV. ii. (Shaks. Soc.), 142. A pereles prince … Euen with a twinke a censeles stocke I sawe.

6

1596.  Shaks., Tam. Shr., II. i. 312. Kisse on kisse Shee vi’d so fast, protesting oath on oath, That in a twinke she won me to her loue.

7

1607.  R. C[arew], trans. Estienne’s World of Wonders, I. xxiv. 194. The poore gentlewoman … speaking not a word, gaue him a twinch with a weeping eye.

8

1715.  Nelson, trans. T. à Kempis’ Chr. Exerc., III. xxv. 173. As lightning in the Twink of an eye, so do all the Kingdoms and Times of the World pass away.

9

1754.  Shebbeare, Matrimony (1766), II. 121. I’ll cut it less in a Twink.

10

1756.  Toldervy, Hist. 2 Orphans, I. 71. I can tell you in the twink of a bedstick.

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1833.  Nyren, Yng. Cricketer’s Tutor (1902), 93. The confident old bowler … thought to settle his business in a twink.

12

1898.  Watts-Dunton, Aylwin, III. i. She’s got the real witch’s eye, and can do you a mischief in a twink, if she likes.

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1903.  Barrie, Little White Bird, xiii. 135. Night passes in a twink.

14

  transf.  1904.  R. J. Farrer, Garden Asia, 276. With the merest twink of some nerve, sending prone his brawny opponent.

15

  2.  A twinkle or sparkle. rare.

16

1830.  [implied in twinkless: see below].

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1870.  J. W. Boulding, Catalina, 8. Saw ye not a strange twink in her eye?

18

  Hence Twinkless a., without a twink or twinkle.

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1830.  R. Montgomery, Satan, II. 121. When weary stars grow twinkless, and depart.

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