Pinch
/pɪntʃ/noun
To squeeze something tightly between the fingers or a finger and thumb; also, a small amount of something.
Did you know?English pinch is ultimately tied to a Germanic root for ‘prick’ or ‘pierce,’ which is why its family includes words for sharpness and puncturing rather than any mystical meaning.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*peyk-
“to prick, pierce, or be sharp”
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*punkjaną
“to prick or pierce”
Old English
OE
pyngan
“to prick, stab, or pierce”
Middle English
ME
pinchen
“to pinch, squeeze, or nip”
Modern English
English
pinch
“to squeeze tightly between finger and thumb; a small quantity”