A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 2002 (DOST Vol. XI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1399-1460, 1513-1537, 1590, 1662
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Twinkil(l, Twynkill, v. Also: twinkle, twynkle, tuinkle. [ME and e.m.E. twyncle, twynkle (both Chaucer), twynkyl (c1440), twinkle (a1547), OE twinclian.] intr.
1. To blink or wink the eye. a1400 Legends of the Saints xxviii 595.
This merwale alson cane be As man mycht twinkil with his e 1513 Doug. iv xii 96.
Scho fallys bakwart … With eyn rollyng, and twynkland [Sm. twynkilling] vp ful fane, Assays scho to spy the hevynnys lyght Trip & Go in 1662 Forbes Cantus (1666).
So lustily she did also both wink & blink, and twinkle too
2. To twinkle, sparkle, glisten. c1409-1436 Kingis Quair § 1.
Heigh in the hevynnis figure circulere The rody sterres twynklyng as the fyre 1460 Hay Alex. 998.
The teiris com doun twinkland oure his [face] 1460 Hay Alex. 9304.
Arestotill … saw hir ene was twynk[land] as the fyre 1513 Doug. xiii iv 53.
The fyry sparkis … Twynkland [Sm. twinkilland] vpspryngis to the starnys on hie 1537 Lynd. Depl. Magd. 147.
Hir rayment … Of gold and perle, and precious stonis brycht Twynkling lyke sterris in ane frostie nycht c1590 J. Stewart 20/174.
Teirs as strems doune tuinklit all his face
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"Twinkil v.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 17 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/twinkill>
