Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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About this entry:
First published 1974 (SND Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
TWIRK, n., v. [twɪrk]
I. n. 1. A twitch (Lth. 1825 Jam.).
2. A trick, catch (Abd. 1930).
II. v. To twist, tweak (Cai. 1939).
[Orig. somewhat uncertain, prob. chiefly imit. but phs. an emphatic variant of Eng. (now dial.) twick, to twitch (cf. Twig, v.1, n.1). In I. 2. the word may be merely an alteration of quirk.]
