Twinge
/twɪndʒ/noun
A sudden sharp stab of pain or a brief pang of emotion.
Did you know?Twinge is historically tied to Germanic words for twisting or pinching, so the word’s original energy is literally a tiny act of bodily torment.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*twenk-
“to twist, pinch, or wrench”
Old English
OE
twengan
“to pinch, squeeze, or torment”
Middle English
ME
twingen
“to pinch, sting, or cause a sharp pain”
16th Century
English
twinge
“a sharp, sudden pang or stab of pain”
Modern English
English
twinge
“a brief sharp pain or emotional pang”