v. Obs. exc. dial. Also 5 twyk (twykkyn). [OE. twiccian = OHG. zwëcchôn (rare). In ME. almost entirely displaced by the related twicchen TWITCH v.1, but still surviving in south-western dial.] trans. and absol. To pull sharply or suddenly; to twitch.
a. 1000. Lat. & Ags. Gloss., in Wr.-Wülcker, 199/38. Carpere, arripere, twiccian.
c. 1000. Sax. Leechd., II. 196/13. Teoh him þa loccas & wringe þa earan & þone wangbeard twicciʓe.
c. 1000. Malchus, in Shrine (Cockayne), 41. Þa ʓeseah ic micelne æmettena heap … & sume hio twiccedan þa grasu mid hiora muðe.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 505/1. Twykkyn, or sum-what drawyn (K. twychyn), tractulo.
c. 1440. Pallad. on Husb., VI. 26. Whil that me may … With fyngres lightly twyk hem [leaves] from the tre.
1825. Jennings, Obs. Dial. W. Eng., 78. To Twick, to twist or jerk suddenly.
1837–91. in Somerset and Devon glossaries.
