Flinch v.¹

Also 7 flench. [app. a. OF. flenchir, flainchir, usually regarded as a variant of the synonymous flechir: see FLECCHE.]

  1.  intr. To give way, draw back, yield ground in a combat; to draw back or turn aside from a course of action, a duty or enterprise. In later use influenced by sense 3: To draw back through failure in courage, endurance, or resolve; to shrink from something as dangerous, painful, or difficult.

1579.  Lyly, Euphues (Arb.), 91. If thou wast minded … to loue me, why dost thou flinch at the last?

1587.  Mirr. Mag., Humber, v.

1611.  Barrey, Ram Alley, III. i.

1649.  Bp. Guthry, Mem. (1702), 65. They were very sensible of the Trick which Argile had put upon them, in drawing them to his Tent, upon assurance, and afterwards flinching from it.

1712.  Arbuthnot, John Bull, IV. xi. Oh the Ingratitude and Injustice of Mankind! That John Bull, whom I have honour’d with my Friendship and Protection so long, should flinch at last, and pretend that he can disburse no more Money for me.

1826.  E. Irving, Babylon, II. 437. I regard you, whom I address, as called of God to that high office of mercy, if you flinch not, like Jonah, from fulfilling your commission.

1840.  Alison, Hist. Europe (1849–50), VIII. liv. § 4. 464. The peasants withstood, without flinching, several attacks in front; but a vigorous charge in flank threw them into disorder, and a gallant attack by the Polish lancers completed their route.

1873.  H. Rogers, Orig. Bible, vi. (1875), 220–1. Peter, with that same faintheartedness which had so often made him flinch in sudden temptation, ‘withdrew himself,’ and slunk out of his Gentile company, afraid of shame and reproach at the hands of the Jewish zealots.

  † b.  To flinch out: to swerve, deviate, be deflected. Obs. rare^–1.

1642.  H. More, Song of Soul, II. III. III. lxxi.

  † 2.  To slink, sneak off. Also with away, off.

1563.  in Strype, Ann. Ref., I. xxxvi. 413. For the preventing of any of these dispensed Persons from flinching off from them, or falling from this Correspondence by some good Reward, there should be several Persons appointed to watch the Parties so licenced, and to give Intelligence to Rome of their Behaviour.

1605.  Camden, Rem. 235. Which when they have beene well and kindely entertained flinch away never giving thankes, but depraving and disprasing their curteous entertainement.

1611.  Florio, Spicchiáre, to sneake or flinch secretly out of sight.

1622.  Mabbe, trans. Aleman’s Guzman d’Alf., II. 131. They went flinching away, and got them home through by-lanes, and such places, as were least frequented.

  3.  To shrink under pain; to wince.

a. 1677.  Barrow, Serm., Wks. 1716, II. 38. Doth not every man flinch at any trouble, doth not every one with all his might strive to rid himself of any thing disgusting to his sense or fancy?

1692.  Locke, Educ., § 115. Satisfy a Child, by a constant Course of your Care and Kindness, that you perfectly love him, and he may, by Degrees, be accustomed to bear very painful and rough Usage from you, without flinching or complaining: And this we see Children do every Day in Play one with another.

1791.  Boswell, Johnson, 7 May, an. 1773, note. He never flinched; but after reiterated blows, remained seemingly unmoved as at the first.

1879.  Browning, Ivan Ivanovitch, 223.

  b.  To blench: see BLENCH v.¹ 2 and 6.

1883.  trans. Stepniak’s Undergr. Russia, Introd. II. iii. 43. He goes forth to meet it fearlessly, when necessary, and can die without flinching, not like a Christian of old, but like a warrior accusomed to look death in the face.

1884.  W. C. Smith, Kildrostan, 93.

  4.  quasi-trans. To withdraw from, lose (one’s ground). Also, To flinch the flagon: to let the bottle pass. To flinch one’s glass: to avoid emptying it. † To flinch (back) one’s hand to draw it back; in quot. fig. to intermit one’s activity.

1674.  N. Fairfax, A Treatise of the Bulk and Selvedge of the World, 75. If Nature should but flinch back her hand, or the world that is round about it should but be pluckt away from it, our Watch would without more ado be utterly unwatcht.

1712.  Arbuthnot, John Bull, III. vi. Lewis, all the while, either by the Strength of his Brain, or Flinching his Glass, kept himself sober as a Judge.

1790.  Burns, Election Ball, xiv.

1838.  G. P. R. James, The Robber, i. You flinched the flagon, I fear me, Master Harry!

  Hence Flinching vbl. sb., Flinch sb., the action of flinching.

1600.  Holland, Livy, XLII. 1127. The tribunes of the commons thought they would prevent and meet this flinching of his and absenting himselfe, by intimation of another act and law provided in that behalf.

1817.  W. Taylor, in Monthly Rev., I. XXXIII. 498. His sentimental enthusiasm was made to collapse by many mortifying sneers; and he incurred something of that unwelcome flinch which the touch of egotism gives to benevolence.

1845.  Hood, True Story, xiv.

1862.  in A. E. Lee, Hist. Columbus (1892), I. 741. Mr. Rarey mounted it, played with it, petted it, sprang over it, leaped over its head, laid [sic] down upon it, and within his legs, all without a start or a flinch. The colt was broken.

1879.  Froude, Cæsar, xvii. 277. The battle lasted from dawn till the afternoon, and though they were falling fast, there was no flinching and no cowardice.