flinch

One entry found for flinch.

Main Entry: flinch
Pronunciation: 'flinch
Function: intransitive verb
Etymology: Middle French flenchir to bend, of Germanic origin; akin to Middle High German lenken to bend, Old High German hlanca flank -- more at LANK
: to withdraw or shrink from or as if from pain : WINCE; also : to tense the muscles involuntarily in anticipation of discomfort
synonym see RECOIL
- flinch noun
- flinch·er noun