I. ˈtwich verb
( -ed/-ing/-es )
Etymology: Middle English twicchen; akin to Old English twiccian to pluck, catch hold of, Low German twicken to pinch, tweak, Old High German gi zwickan
transitive verb
1. : to pull with a sudden motion : jerk , pluck
be sure he does not twitch his handwheel back and forth — Coast Artillery Journal
twitched him by the sleeve
2. : to nip or pinch with or as if with pincers : inflict a pinching sting or smart on
misgivings twitched him at the prospect
3. : to move (a body part) with a sudden jerky motion
cows twitched their flanks to drive off flies
4. : to snatch as a thief or pickpocket
twitched a purse from his pocket
5. dialect Britain
a. : to draw tight with a cord
b. : draw (a cord) tight
6. : to close on (a mineral lode) : narrow — used of the surrounding rock
7. New England : skid — used of logs
intransitive verb
1. : pull , pluck
twitched at my sleeve
twitched at her skirt
2.
a. : to move jerkily : jump , quiver
her lips began to twitch — Marcia Davenport
chestnuts twitched on hot tin drums — Horace Sutton
b. : to ache with a sudden stabbing pain or twinge
his corn twitched like a bad tooth
her conscience twitched at the memory
3. : pinch 4
Synonyms: see jerk
II. noun
( -es )
1. : an act of twitching : a short sudden pull or jerk
by a dexterous twitch got possession of the cuttings — John Buchan
2. : a sudden sharp pain : pang , twinge
felt again the twitch of an old wound
ignored a passing feeble twitch of conscience
3. : a loop of rope or strap that is tightened over a horse's upper lip as a restraining device by twisting an attached stick
4. : pinch 4
5.
a. : a short spastic contraction of the muscle fibers : a simple muscular contraction : an involuntary muscular jerk
the nerve was electrically stimulated and the muscle twitch was recorded — C.H.Thienes
b. : a slight jerk or motion of a body part
saw by an icy twitch of her eyebrows that this would be presuming — Marcia Davenport
III. noun
or twitch grass
( -es )
Etymology: alteration of quitch (grass)
1. : couch grass 1a
2. : slender foxtail
IV. intransitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-es )
: to clear land of twitch grass : gather and burn twitch grass