Definition of the word flinch from

The origin of the phrase "flinch from" can be traced back to the Old English word "flæncan," which means "to shrink, to draw back, to recoil." This verb evolved also to mean "to start suddenly, to be startled or frightened" during the Middle English period. The noun form of this word, "flinch," first appeared in the late 14th century. Its initial meaning was "a shrinking or starting back" or "a sudden, involuntary contraction of the muscles" in response to a perceived threat or danger. The preposition "from" has been used to denote movement or direction away from something terrible or unpleasant for centuries. It appears for the first time in Old English in the form "frōm." The phrase "flinch from" came into existence when these two words were combined. It now indicates a quick, sudden, and instinctive recoil or retreat specifically in response to something intense, overwhelming, or detestable. The modern usage of "flinch from" first emerged during the mid-15th century.