Definition of the word twinge

The word "twinge" originated in Middle English during the 1300s as "twynken," meaning a sudden, sharp pain or spasm. The term is believed to have been derived from the Old English word "twellan," meaning "to shrink, to draw together or contract." The Middle English usage of "twynken" referred to a general throbbing or aching sensation as well, but over time, the word came to be associated almost exclusively with sudden, acute pain or discomfort. In the early 1500s, the spelling "twinge" became the standard form of the word and has remained mostly unchanged to this day. Today, "twinge" is used to describe various types of sudden, often sharp, physical sensations, such as a twinge of pain in a muscle or a twinge of discomfort in a tooth.