squinched


Also found in: Thesaurus, Encyclopedia.
click for a larger image
squinch1

squinch 1

 (skwĭnch)
n.
A structure, such as a section of vaulting or corbeling, set diagonally across the interior angle between two walls to provide a transition from a square to a polygonal or more nearly circular base on which to construct a dome.

[Alteration of scuncheon, from Middle English sconchon, from Old French escoinson : es-, out of (from Latin ex-; see ex-) + coin, angle, wedge; see coin.]

squinch 2

 (skwĭnch)
tr.v. squinched, squinch·ing, squinch·es
To squeeze, twist, or draw together: squinched her eyes shut.

[Alteration of squint.]
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Adj.1.squinched - having eyes half closed in order to see better; "squinched eyes"
shut, closed - used especially of mouth or eyes; "he sat quietly with closed eyes"; "his eyes were shut against the sunlight"
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
References in periodicals archive ?
In "Blackberry Eating," we read: "the ripest berries / fall almost unbidden to my tongue, / as words sometimes do, certain peculiar words / like strengths or squinched, / many-lettered, one-syllable lumps, / which I squeeze, squinch open, and splurge well."
When they start listing all the things that are wrong, all those isms, all those theological, historical, cultural, sociological theories; all those Bible quotations interpreted, sometimes squinched, sometimes stretched, to fit an argument.
Here are some rarer examples, all of which are acceptable in international Scrabble: SCHLUMPED, SCHMEARED, SCHMEERED, SCHNORRED, SCRAICHED, SCRAIGHED, SCRAUGHED, SCRITCHED, SCROOCHED, SCROWDGED, SQUINCHED, SQUOOSHED, THRUTCHED
"He's no friend of the NRA." Big Henry took a final hit from his latest Camel, dragging on it so greedily he squinched his eyes shut with the effort, not a particle of smoke eluding him, and then ground out the stub in an ashtray.
That's okay; I did too Here's how it began: I was visiting an old pal at his gun shop when a dude strolled in and Tom's face squinched up like he was suckin' a lemon.
squinched in the bottom, steam rising like a jinni--