TWINKLE

I. verb (~d; twinkling) Etymology: Middle English, from Old English twinclian; akin to Middle High German zwinken to blink Date: before 12th century intransitive verb to shine with a flickering or sparkling light ; scintillate , 2. to flutter the eyelids, to appear bright especially with merriment , to flutter or flit rapidly, transitive verb to cause to shine with fluctuating light, to flicker or flirt rapidly , ~r noun II. noun Date: 1548 a wink of the eyelids, the instant's duration of a wink ; twinkling , an intermittent radiance ; flicker , sparkle , a rapid flashing motion ; flit , twinkly adjective