sb. Now dial. Also 6 twyndle, -del, 9 twinnel. [app. for *twinnle, dim. of TWIN sb.: see -LE. Cf. OHG. zwinal, -el, zwenel (adj.), twin.] = TWIN sb. 1.
1526. R. Whytford, Martiloge, 45. A woman … with her two chylder twyndles.
1529. Rastell, Pastyme (1811), 12. Romulus and Remus, bredyrne and twyndels.
1642. in Collins, Kirkburton Regrs. (1887), I. 237. Thomas and Elizabeth children of Thomas Hepworth beinge twindles.
1674. Lowe, Lanc. Diary (1876), 43. Ffriday was buried a twindle of John Leyland…. lordsday was buryed the other twindle of John Leylands.
a. 1800. Pegge, Suppl. Grose, Twindles, twins. Lanc.
1882. Lanc. Gloss., Twindles, twins.
b. attrib. = TWIN a. 4 b.
1636. W. Sampson, Vow-Breaker, H ij. I dream’d my husband, when he came first a woing, cam i’ the liknes of a Kentish twindle Pippen; that is, just as if two stones grew together.
Hence Twindle (twinnel) v., intr. to bring forth twins: = TWIN v. 1.
1845. Thornber, Penny Stone, ii. 14. Mother Cowburne has twinnelled.
