/ ˈwɪŋkl; NAmE / noun , verb
■ noun
( BrE ) (also peri·win·kle NAmE , BrE ) a small shellfish , like a snail , that can be eaten
■ verb
( BrE , informal )
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PHRASAL VERBS
- winkle sth/sb out (of sth)
- winkle sth out of sb
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WORD ORIGIN
late 16th cent.: shortening of periwinkle sense 2.