I. ˈwiŋ-kəl noun
Etymology: by shortening
Date: 1585
: periwinkle II
II. intransitive verb
( win·kled ; win·kling -k(ə-)liŋ)
Etymology: frequentative of wink
Date: 1791
: twinkle
III. transitive verb
( win·kled ; win·kling -k(ə-)liŋ)
Etymology: winkle (I); from the process of extracting a winkle from its shell
Date: 1918
1. chiefly British : to displace, remove, or evict from a position — usually used with out
2. chiefly British : to obtain or draw out by effort — usually used with out
no attempt to winkle out why they do it — Joan Bakewell