TWINGE

I. verb (~d; twinging or ~ing) Etymology: Middle English twengen, from Old English twengan; akin to Old High German zwengen to pinch Date: before 12th century transitive verb pluck , tweak , to affect with a sharp pain or pang, intransitive verb to feel a sudden sharp local pain, II. noun Date: 1608 a sudden sharp stab of pain, a moral or emotional pang