SQUINCH


Meaning of SQUINCH in English

squinch 1

/skwinch/ , n. Archit.

a small arch, corbeling, or the like, built across the interior angle between two walls, as in a square tower for supporting the side of a superimposed octagonal spire.

[ 1490-1500; var. of scunch, short for scuncheon, ME sconch ( e ) on escoinson, esconchon; see SCONCHEON ]

squinch 2

/skwinch/ , v.t.

1. to contort (the features) or squint.

2. to squeeze together or contract.

v.i.

3. to squeeze together or crouch down, as to fit into a smaller space.

[ 1830-40; orig. uncert.; cf. SQUINT ]

Random House Webster's Unabridged English dictionary.      Полный английский словарь Вебстер - Random House .