| 释义 |
▪ I. twist, n.1|twɪst|
Forms: 4–6 twyst, -e, 4–7 twiste, (5 twest, tweeste, 5–6 twys, 6 tweyste, Sc. tuist), 4– twist.
[Related to twist v., and presenting similar obscurities of history (except in senses directly derived from the verb). Sense 1 may be related to the OE. -twist which appears in candel-twist glossing L. emunctoria, and mæst-twist glossing L. parastates. Sense 2 corresponds to ON. kvistr (Norw. and Da. kvist, Sw. qvist), which may ultimately be from the same stem: Kilian also gives a Flemish twist ‘rami abscissi, ramalia’. To sense 4 the only parallel appears to be Kilian's ‘twist i. twijn, filum duplex, retortum’, the genuineness of which as a Flemish word is doubtful. (G. twist, cotton-twist, is from English.) In English there is no sense corresponding to MDu. and Du., MLG. and LG. twist (hence Da. and Sw. tvist), MHG. and G. zwist discord, dissension.]
I. A divided object or part.
†1. The flat part of a hinge, fastened on a door or gate, and turning on a hook or pintle fixed in the post: = band n.1 3. Obs.
1350–1in J. R. Magrath Obituary Bk. Queen's Coll., Oxf. 67 Recepta de dono Willelmi Muscham xvijs pro twystes portarum. 1388Wyclif Amos viii. 3 And the herris [gloss ether twistis; Vulg. cardines] of the temple schulen greetli sowne in that dai. 1388–9Abingdon Rolls (Camden) 54 In hokis, twystis, et clauis, xij d. 1405–5Ibid. 69 In j hacche cum j twyste et opere ij s. 14..Beryn 478 The Pardonere..went to have fond þe dor vp by þe haspe; & eke þe twist Held hym out a whils, & þe lok also. 1491–2in Swayne Sarum Churchw. Acc. (1896) 40 Twistes and hokes necessary vnto the Wedyr Dorys. 1529Yatton Churchw. Acc. (Som. Rec. Soc.) 145 Y⊇ levys of y⊇ wyndowes in y⊇ Church-howse, with hookys, twystys, and haspys. 1545Croscombe Churchw. Acc. (Som. Rec. Soc.) 44 Paid for a tweyste and naylys and greffe, iiid. Paid for greffe thred and silke, iiid. c1568in Swayne Sarum Churchw. Acc. (1896) 114, iiij pere of twysse and ij pere of hookes. 1805R. W. Dickson Pract. Agric. I. 71 Smith, for locks, hooks, and twists, latches, etc.
†2. A twig; a branch. Obs.
c1374Chaucer Troylus iii. 1181 (1230) As a-bowte a tre with many a twyste [v.rr. twist, -e] Bytrent and wryþe the soote wode bynde. 1375Barbour Bruce vii. 188 The kyng..had drede of thai thre men... Tharfor he slepit as foul on twist. c1386Chaucer Merch. T. 1905 On his bak she stood And caughte hire by a twiste, and vp she gooth. 1423Jas. I Kingis Q. xxxiii, On the small[e] grene twistis sat The lytill suete nyghtingale. c1440Alph. Tales 360/2 Þis man happend to be smyten in þe ee with a twyste, so þat he mot not se. 1513Douglas æneis iii. i. 58 Ane vthir smale twist of a tree I chesit. 1583Stubbes Anat. Abus. i. (1879) 76 So long as a sprigge, twist, or braunche, is yong, it is flexible and bowable. 1622W. Whately God's Husb. ii. 2 The cutting off from the branches such vnprofitable and ouergrowing twists,..as doe no way benefit the branch.
3. a. The part of anything at which it divides or branches; spec. the junction of the thighs, the fork; now (exc. arch.) only that of sheep and cattle.
1398Trevisa Barth. De P.R. v. xxxi. (Bodl. MS.), Þe boones of the rybbes..beth ybounde togedres in þe twiste of þe breest. c1440Promp. Parv. 504/2 Twest, or twyste, of þe eye (H., P. tweeste of the iye), hirquus [cf. 1677 Coles Lat. Dict., Hirquus, the corner of the eye]. 1572J. Jones Bathes Buckstone 13 b, The one apply vnder the arme holes, and the other in the twyste. 1575Turberv. Venerie 36 Split one of his forefeete from the twiste of the cleas unto the ioynte of the foote. 1607Topsell Four-f. Beasts (1658) 509 Bowes are requisite to remove them [squirrels] when they rest in the twists of trees. 1611Cotgr., Fourcheure..that part of the bodie from whence the thighes doe part; I thinke we call it the Twist. a1668Davenant Siege iii. i, If thou dost grin I'll cleave thee from the Scalp, unto the Twist. 1719De Foe Crusoe (1840) I. ii. 25, I took him by surprise with my arm under his twist. 1799A. Young Agric. Lincoln 359 The gambrels of the hind legs rather inclining inwards, and the twist fat. 1831Sutherland Farm Rep. 82 in Libr. Usef. Knowl., Husb. III, The breast and twist much narrower than to all appearance was compatible with so broad a carcase. 1882Stevenson New Arab. Nts. (1901) 97/2 If I had my hand under your twist I would send you flying. 1899Jrnl. R. Agric. Soc. Mar. 7 The breast, flank, and twist [of a bull] of great size.
†b. transf. See quot. Obs.
1706Phillips (ed. Kersey), Twist,..the Hollow on the inside of the Thigh;..among Carpenters it is taken for a piece of Timber otherwise call'd the Girder. 1823Crabb Technol. Dict., Twist, another name for a girder.
II. The twisting of threads into a cord, and derived senses.
4. a. Thread or cord composed of two or more fibres or filaments of hemp, silk, wool, cotton, or the like, wound round one another; often with defining word, as silk twist, woollen twist, cotton twist, gold twist or silver twist.
1555Eden Decades 200 The other [cord] is grosser lyke the wycke or twyste of hempe. 1558in Feuillerat Revels Q. Eliz. (1908) 93, iiiior oz. di. silke twyste. 1591Spenser M. Hubberd 461 Ne to weare garments base of wollen twist, But with the finest silkes us to aray. 1601J. Wheeler Treat. Comm. 110 White veluet ierkins cut, imbroidered with siluer twist. 1674Essex Papers (Camden) I. 277 Rolling up Wooll into great Twist, & so passing it as Yarne. 1762Goldsm. Cit. W. liv, His coat was trimmed with tarnished twist. c1850Arab. Nights (Rtldg.) 306 A small silk purse..tied with a piece of twist.
b. spec. (a) in Cotton-spinning, warp yarn, which is more twisted in spinning, and stronger than weft; (b) fine silk thread used by tailors, hatters, etc. With pl., a kind of this.
1805East Rep. V. 175 The Battiers received orders from abroad for cotton twist. 1825C. M. Westmacott Eng. Spy I. 265 Buttons, twist, and small ware. 1851L. D. B. Gordon Art Jrnl. Illustr. Catal. p. vi**/2 Twist is the term usually applied to the kind of yarn used for cotton warp; organzine to that for silk warp. 1890‘R. Boldrewood’ Miner's Right xxxi, A small piece of silk thread, known by tailors as ‘twist’. 1891Daily News 18 Nov. 2/7 Wefts are still more pressed for sale than twists.
5. a. A cord, thread, or the like, formed by twisting, spinning, or plaiting; in quot. 1872, a conical bag or wrapper made by twisting a piece of paper, a ‘cornet’ or ‘screw’.
1598Sylvester Du Bartas ii. i. iv. Handie-crafts 293 On either horn a three-fold twist he ty'd Of Osiar twigs. 1603B. Jonson Jas. I's Entertainm. Wks. (Rtldg.) 529/1 She..sits weaving certain small silver twists. 1607Shakes. Cor. v. vi. 96 Breaking his Oath and Resolution, like A twist of rotten Silke. 1662Gerbier Princ. 5 Twists of Hair on both sides of their Cheeks. 1700Dryden Ovid's Met. xii. 198 About his chin the twist He ty'd, and soon the strangl'd soul dismiss'd. 1740Cheyne Regimen 151 To suppose the Nerves to be..membranous Tubes, Twists or Ropes. 1791Cowper Odyss. xvii. 238 His tatter'd wallet o'er his back.., suspended by a leathern twist. 1859Tennyson Vivien 70 A twist of gold was round her hair. 1872Routledge's Ev. Boy's Ann. 127/2 A twist of newspaper, holding salt, was next placed on the table. 1906A. Werner Natives Brit. Centr. Afr. viii. 206 A few leaves, or a twist of grass, are put on the top to keep the water from spilling.
b. Naut. Each of the strands of which a rope consists. Also to spin a twist (fig.): see quot. 1867.
c1635N. Boteler Dial. Sea Services (1685) 192 The ends of the Strands or several Twists, are with a Fidd drawn into the ends of the other Ropes Strands, and this is called a Splice. 1769Falconer Dict. Marine (1789) Bb ij b, The twists or strands of a rope. 1867Smyth Sailor's Word-bk., Spin a Twist or a Yarn, to tell a long story; much prized in a dreary watch, if not tedious.
†6. fig. The continuation or course of life figured as a thread; cf. thread n. 6 a. Obs.
1568T. Howell Arb. Amitie (1879) 25 For thin is twist or fatall threed, on mortall wheele so spun. 1581― Deuises (1879) 197 But when the twyste of this our tyme is wownde, No meanes by man may serue the same to stretch. 1596Spenser F.Q. iv. ii. 48 Cruell Atropos..cutting the twist in twaine. 1614Gorges Lucan vi. 254 The Fatall sisters three,..their spinning twists did guide. 1638Ford Fancies iv. i, 'Tis in my power to cut off The twist thy life is spun by.
7. In other figurative applications, e.g. a slight or weak support upon which something depends; a means of tracing one's way in a labyrinth; an intimate union or connexion; the composition or substance of something figured as being spun.
1580Lyly Euphues (Arb.) 458 Vpon what a twist they hang that now are in honour. 1633G. Herbert Temple, Pearl iv, Through the labyrinths..thy silk twist let down from heav'n to me, Did both conduct and teach me. 1660Charac. Italy 90 Nor doth her incolumity depend upon the slender twist of the life of one single person. 1675Baxter Cath. Theol. i. 54 Here is a wonderful inseparable twist; and in the main an Identity. a1734North Exam. ii. v. §151 (1740) 410 We must necessarily have to do with him, because the Author has so taken him into his Twist, that we cannot baulk him.
8. A beverage consisting of a mixture of two liquors or ingredients, as tea and coffee, gin and brandy, etc.: see quots. slang.
a1700B. E. Dict. Cant. Crew, Twist, half Tea, half Coffee. 1712Addison Spect. No. 317 ⁋19 Coffee-house. Read the News. A Dish of Twist. 1725New Cant. Dict., Twist,..Likewise Brandy and Eggs mixed. Hot-pot. 1823Jon Bee Slang, Gin-twist, hot water and gin, with sugar and lemon-juice, or orange ditto. 1826,1849[see gin n.2 2].
9. Tobacco made into a thick cord; a piece or ‘length’ of this. Cf. pigtail 1 a.
1791W. Bartram Carolina 499, I distributed my presents, giving him a very fine hankerchief and a twist of choice Tobacco. 1808Pike Sources Mississ. (1810) ii. 121 The prize offered to the successful person was a jacket and a twist of tobacco. 1809A. Henry Trav. 315 Tobacco..fetched one beaver-skin per foot of Spencer's twist. 1818Scott Hrt. Midl. xl[i]v, Gang down to the Clachan and bring me up a pennyworth of twist. 1849Cupples Green Hand iii, Cakes of cavendish, twists of negrohead, and coils of pigtail. 1886Hall Caine Son of Hagar iii. i, Wot's to prevent me having a screw of twist on the strength of it? 1909J. Stark Priest Gordon of Aberdeen ii. 22, I tried the daily use of small twist.
10. A small loaf made of one or more twisted rolls of dough; a small twisted roll of bread.
1830G. Colman Random Rec. II. iii. 78 But plague upon their bapps..a doughy sort of something, between a roll and a twist. a1845Hood Love has not Eyes iv, Though she's all so much awry, she can only eat a twist! 1852Dickens Bleak Ho. xix, Dainty new bread, crusty twists, cool fresh butter. 1893Earl Dunmore Pamirs I. 274 Three or four different sorts of bread, round balls, chupatties, twists [etc.].
11. Stringy india-rubber in the crude state made up in lumps like balls of cord.
1909in Cent. Dict. Supp.
12. A curled piece of lemon (or other citrus) peel used to flavour a drink. Also (colloq.) ellipt.
1958A. L. Simon Dict. Wines 58/1 Merry Widow, 50 per cent Byrrh Wine; 50 per cent Dry Gin. Fill glass with ice; stir and strain in cocktail glass; twist of orange peel and serve. 1968Spirits (‘Know the Drink’ Series) 36/1 Cuba Libre, 2 oz. light rum, 1 tablespoon unsweetened lime juice. Pour over ice in glass, top up with Coca-Cola, add a twist of lime or lemon rind. 1971G. V. Higgins Friends of Eddie Coyle (1972) viii. 55 He ordered a vodka martini on the rocks with a twist. 1973[see Lillet]. 1981W. Safire in N.Y. Times Mag. 2 May 18/3 A twist is of course a twist of lemon skin.
III. Senses denoting chiefly the action of the verb.
13. a. An act or the action of turning on or as on an axis; a turn; a twirl; the condition of being twisted or turned in this way; rotary motion, spin.
1576Gascoigne Grief of Joye i. Wks. (Roxb.) II. 265 The strongest thryd yt ever yet was sponne..Is nockthrowen yet even with y⊇ spindles twyst. 1762Sterne Tr. Shandy V. v, Bending her head a little downwards, with a twist of her neck. 1799A. Young Agric. Lincoln. 151 It is gathered by hand, grasping the leaves of the plants, and taking them off with a twist. 1826G. Samouelle Direct. Collect. Insects & Crust. 63 The net should be of such a length, that, upon a slight twist, it may fall against one side of the hoop, and prevent the escape of the insect. 1840Thackeray Shabby-genteel Story ix, Mr. Fitch..gave a twist of the curling-tongs to his beard. 1849H. Miller Footpr. Creat. ix. (1874) 161 In order to accommodate it to the general twist, which rendered lateral what in other fishes is dorsal and abdominal. 1855Browning A Light Woman x, [A pear] 'Twas quenching a dozen blue-flies' thirst When I gave its stalk a twist. 1906Daily Chron. 7 June 4/7 We have to allow for the twist of the earth,..mid-Europe time and Eastern Europe time..are ahead of Greenwich.
b. spec. in Arch.: see quot. 1875.
1840Civil Eng. & Arch. Jrnl. III. 232/2 A short portion of a course, or a single arch-stone, is very nearly contained between two planes slightly inclined to each other; and..the loss of material arising from the twist of the stone must always be insignificant. 1875Knight Dict. Mech., Twist (3), Archit., the wind of the bed-joint of each course of voussoirs in a skew arch.
c. A dance in which the body is twisted from side to side; spec. a dance of this kind popular in the early 1960s. Also, music for such a dance.
1894in Sunday Times (1962) 11 Mar. 42/5 They're ready an' willin', An' fair at Kadrillin', But my little Flo does the twist. 1898J. D. Brayshaw Slum Silhouettes 239 An' there's no kid abaht it, they can both on 'em darnce. Kitty took fust prize..at the contest at that there 'all in Bow. You orter see 'er do the twist. 1928Daily Tel. 11 May 11/1 ‘The Twist’, created by M. Camille de Rhynal..is designed to cultivate gliding and swaying movements. 1961Guardian 4 Nov. 6/3, I have read recently that a new dance has been introduced in America called ‘The Twist’. 1965M. Spark Mandelbaum Gate iv. 116 My mother makes a party for the girls to do the Twist. 1966Crescendo Nov. 6/1 ‘Manchild’..is an exciting, driving twist. 1978S. Naipaul North of South i. iv. 102 Modishly dressed African men and women dancing what I assumed to be the twist.
14. a. In Real Tennis, Cricket, Billiards, etc.: Lateral spin imparted to a ball in striking or delivery, causing it to diverge on rebounding; ‘screw’; a stroke by which such spin is given; the action or knack of giving this spin to a ball; also, a ball having such spin.
1699E. S―cy Country Gentl. Vade M. 54 The Players [at Tennis]..talking of Cuts and Twists, and Forces. 1833J. Nyren Yng. Cricketer's Tutor 68 The ball was delivered quite low, and with a twist. 1856[see screw n.1 11 b]. 1884I. Bligh in Lillywhite's Cricket Ann. 3 W. H. Cooper, as to whose powers of twist and singularity of method so much has been heard. 1889S. Gibney in Boys' Own Paper 4 May 496/1 The way well pitched up balls to crump, And how the twists should smothered be.
b. Physics. Movement parallel to, combined with rotation about, an axis (as in the motion of a screw); also, the velocity of such movement (= twist-velocity).
1891in Cent. Dict.
15. The amount or direction of twisting given to the strands of a rope (rare); also, the twisting given to yarn in spinning.
1712Arbuthnot John Bull iii. iii, Habbakuk brought him a smooth strong tough rope... Jack..found fault with the length, the thickness, and the twist. 1810J. T. in Risdon's Surv. Devon p. xxv, The other yarn, of a softer twist, is called the abb or shoot. 1825J. Nicholson Operat. Mechanic 383 When the spindles have given the requisite degree of twist to the yarn. 1831G. R. Porter Silk Manuf. 205 The action of steam..is found effectually and permanently to set the twist. 1839Ure Dict. Arts 983 The flat band, made of four ropes placed horizontally together, the ropes being laid alternately right and left... The ropes counter⁓act one another in the twist. c1905in Eng. Dial. Dict. (W. Yks.), Twist,..the turns put into the end of thread by the rotation of the spindle.
16. a. The condition of being twisted spirally; the amount or degree of this; spec. the angle of torsion; also, a spirally twisted object or figure; a spiral line or pattern; spec. the rifling in the bore of a gun, etc. (Knight Dict. Mech. 1875).
Damascus twist: see Damascus.
1711Addison Spect. No. 120 ⁋3 There is not the least Turn in the Muscles or Twist in the Fibres of any one [animal], which does not render them more proper for that particular Animal's Way of Life than any other Cast or Texture of them would have been. 1774Goldsm. Nat. Hist. (1776) IV. 283 The tusks [of this elephant]..have a larger twist, or spiral curve, towards the smaller end. 1833J. Holland Manuf. Metal II. 100 The experience of the workmen [gun-making] enables them to produce any intricacy of twist by this drawing out, doubling and twisting. 1846Greener Sc. Gunnery 114 It is then twisted like a rope, or..wrung as wet clothes are, until it has from twelve to fourteen complete turns in the inch... Three of these rods are then placed together, with the inclinations of the twists running in opposite directions; they are then welded. Ibid. 368 The twist of the spirals..being one turn in four feet. 1858― Gunnery 218 Drop a few drops of muriatic acid in a basin of water, and wash the barrel slightly, to brighten the twists. 1859Handbk. Turning 113 Examine your work, and see whether the twists begin to appear... As the ivory twists are, of course, very delicate,..employ the screw guides, as directed for the spiral turning. 1867Thomson & Tait Nat. Phil. §120 The whole twist of any length of a straight rod is the angle between the transverses of its ends. 1885Watson & Burbury Math. Th. Electr. & Magn. I. 81 The suspending wire or fibre will be perfectly free from any twist or torsion.
(b) concr. A spiral ornament in the stem of a wine-glass. Usu. with defining word, as air-twist, colour twist (see under the first elements), enamel twist, and freq. attrib.; also transf., a glass with this kind of stem.
1897A. Hartshorne Old Eng. Glasses 275 The stems are of opaque-white twists of many threads. 1923H. J. Powell Glass-Making in Eng. iv. 61 A goblet with enamel-twist stem. 1927W. A. Thorpe English & Irish Glass 18 Enamel-twists in white or coloured enamels. 1930T. Rohan Old Glass Beautiful 72 A Norwich twist glass. 1961C. M. Elville Collector's Dict. Glass 81 Those glasses in white monochrome included ales and glasses with straight-sided and bucket-shaped bowls, most of which had enamel-twist stems. 1965P. M. Hubbard Hive of Glass iv. 42 Have you anything in the way of drinking glasses?.. A twist for choice. 1973Guardian 17 Mar. 18/6 A wine glass with an opaque twist might be worth {pstlg}25, but with a blue spiral as well {pstlg}200. A goblet with coloured twists would be worth upwards of {pstlg}500. 1979Radio Times 7–13 Apr. 25/2 We don't normally touch chipped [glass] items—though we did have a very fine colour twist with a slight chip which went for {pstlg}800... You can still get a little opaque twist of the 1750s for {pstlg}20–{pstlg}30.
b. Dynamics. Twisting strain or force; torque.
1891in Cent. Dict.
c. fig. A means or opportunity of twisting; a hold. Cf. screw n.1 2. slang.
1880E. W. Hamilton Diary 30 Nov. (1972) I. 83 The Irish land question evidently weighs heavily on Mr. G... He is afraid of Forster ‘getting a twist’. Forster is evidently in favor of very strong measures. 1881Home Missionary (N.Y.) Feb. 386 An artful scheme by which to get a twist on them for the extortion of money.
d. the twist: cheating, dishonesty; treachery; also in phrs. on, at the twist. Criminals' slang.
1933C. E. Leach On Top of Underworld x. 141 Twist, at the, double-crossing. 1938F. D. Sharpe Sharpe of Flying Squad 334 Twist (the), to change something written or said from right to wrong. Sometimes called ‘the Oliver Twist’... A dishonest bookmaker..would say: ‘Put the Oliver on it’, instead of..‘Put the Twist on it’—which might be understood by the ‘Mug’. 1977J. Wainwright Day of Peppercorn Kill 29 Silver-smiths,..one of 'em on the twist. 1979― Duty Elsewhere x. 36 If I'd wanted you picked up—if I'd wanted to work a twist—would I be here, now? Ibid. xxv. 67 Who the hell's poor? Really poor? Poor enough to merit going on the twist?
e. Slang phr. to get one's knickers in a twist: to become unduly agitated or angry (joc.).
1971Morning Star 26 June 2/1 Britain's Foreign Office mandarins have had their knickers in a twist for the past fortnight. 1982Brand New York (Lit. Rev. special issue) 118/3 There is no reason to get one's knickers in a twist and believe the revolution is nigh.
17. a. out of twist, free from twisting or torsion.
1854H. Miller Sch. & Schm. x. (1858) 216 If their [the plants'] plane be, as a workman would say, out of twist, their lines will seem parallel. 1901J. Black's Illustr. Carp. & Build., Scaffolding 34 As on the way the holes are bored will depend in a great measure whether the ladder is out of twist or not when finished, they should be made as true as possible.
b. A twisting or screwing of the body or features; a contortion or screw.
1865Dickens Mut. Fr. iii. i, Another dry twist in place of a smile. 1896Pall Mall Mag. Sept. 5 ‘Indeed!’ said Mr. Paget, with an upward twist of his grizzled brows.
c. A strain or wrench (of a limb or joint).
1865Dickens Mut. Fr. i. vii, You have got a twist in that bone. 1868Atkinson Cleveland Gloss., Twist, a strain, or wrench; of a joint.
18. A hearty appetite. Cf. twist v. 13. slang.
1785Grose Dict. Vulg. T. s.v., A good twist, a good appetite. a1830in Norman London Signs & Inscript. iii. (1893) 63 Milo the Crotonian an ox slew with his fist, And ate it up at one meal, ye Gods what a glorious twist. 1834W. H. Ainsworth Rookwood iv. viii, What a devil of a twist he has got! 1861Hughes Tom Brown at Oxf. vi, You talking of my twist, indeed; you ate four chops and a whole chicken to-day, at dinner. 1890‘R. Boldrewood’ Miner's Right iv, ‘Cyrus has such a tremendous appetite...’ ‘If I've got a good twist, I can do a day's work.’
19. An irregular bend; a crook, a kink; also, a confused intertwining, as of a yarn or thread; a tangle. Chiefly fig.
a twist in one's tongue, inability to articulate or pronounce clearly.
1776Foote Capuchin iii. Wks. 1799 II. 401, I am told I have a small twist in my tongue. 1806–7J. Beresford Miseries Hum. Life (1826) iii. v, Some plaguy twist in our horoscope. 1858Longfellow M. Standish viii. 75 She disentangled expertly Twist or knot in the yarn. 189719th Cent. Nov. 786 A twist in the language, an intricate turn, an idiomatic knot. 1903Westm. Gaz. 23 Dec. 9/2 The twists into which some consciences have got tangled.
20. A turning aside, a deviation; also fig. a change of circumstances, vicissitude; in quot. 1884, the twisting flight of a snipe; also, a point or place at which a road alters its direction; a bend, turn (also fig.); often in phrase twists and turns, intricate windings, ins and outs.
1798S. Lee Canterb. T., Yng. Lady's T. II. 6 Anxiously did she..form to every fantastic twist of fashion, Miss Arden's rich profusion of auburn hair. 1806–7J. Beresford Miseries Hum. Life (1826) vi. Introd., A hot sun..to stare in upon me all day..at every twist of the road. 1853Jerdan Autobiog. IV. xvii. 330 After all his twists and turns of fortune. 1875Jowett Plato (ed. 2) III. 38 When men have learned to take a pleasure and pride in the twists and turns of the law. 1884St. James's Gaz. 19 Dec. 6/2 Before the snipe got into his twist..the single-barrel seemed to drop the shot with certainty. 1884Tennyson Becket v. ii, He knows the twists and turnings of the place. 1897G. Allen Type-writer Girl v, After various intricate twists and turns,..I found myself at last by the side of a pond.
21. fig.
a. An eccentric or perverted inclination or attitude; esp. a peculiar mental turn or bent; an intellectual or moral bias or obliquity; a craze, whim, crotchet.
1811Byron Hints fr. Hor. 734 note, If she don't take a poetical twist, and come forth as a shoe-making Sappho. 1813Sir R. Wilson Diary in Life (1862) II. 204 He has a twist, or, as the Scotch say, a ‘craze’ on the subject of dress. 1840Dickens Old C. Shop xxxvi, If in a mind so beautiful any moral twist or bandiness could be found. 1842L. Hunt Men, Women, & B. (1847) II. xii. 305 It took a twist of intrigue and worldliness. 1872Morley Voltaire vi. (ed. 2) 311 The twist which polemical fury may give to the most acute intelligence. 1885Dunckley in Manch. Exam. 20 July 6/1 Attendance at Government night schools might easily give them a pauper twist for the rest of their lives.
b. A wresting, perversion, distortion.
1862Goulburn Pers. Relig. iv. vii. (1873) 304 What twists has the mind of man contrived to give it [the Gospel]. 1875Whitney Life, &c. of Lang. v. 96 The most curious twist of meaning. 1876T. Le M. Douse Grimm's L. §34. 71 Minute phonetic twists in the several adopting dialects..might still wrench the sound on to widely divergent lines of debilitation.
c. An unexpected development of events, esp. in a work of fiction; a change from usual procedure.
1941B. Schulberg What makes Sammy Run? ii. 31 It's a comedy with a helluva twist in it... she kidnaps him. 1943B. Smith Tree grows in Brooklyn (1947) xxvi. 145 She did not report happenings truthfully, but gave them colour, excitement and dramatic twists. 1962[see snapper n.1 2 d]. 1974‘E. Lathen’ Sweet & Low xii. 125 Well, there's a new twist for you... I wonder how much it's costing Dreyer to go on network TV and remind us all that they specialize in murder, as well as chocolate. 1978Navy News Oct. 3/1 Portraying a sailor came almost naturally to Peter O'Toole when he played Robinson Crusoe in ‘Man Friday’, which provides a new twist to the Daniel Defoe classic. 1982M. Young Elmhirsts of Dartington ix. 227 The fact that he was nephew to..a staunch opponent of theirs was a twist that..appealed to them both. He got the job.
d. round the twist = round the bend s.v. bend n.4 10 c. slang.
1960D. Abse House of Cowards in Plays of Year 1960–61 XXIII. 190, I knew he was barmy. I knew that man was round the twist, sayin' things like that. 1971‘F. Clifford’ Blind Side iv. iii. 178, I ask you. Enough to send you round the twist. 1977D. Bagley Enemy v. 38, I swear Ogilvie thought I was going round the twist.
22. Anglo-Irish. A spell or turn; a bout; a contest. Cf. turn n. 25. rare.
1846J. Keegan Leg. & Poems (1907) 430 The great Queen's County bruiser..to take a twist with Davy Fetherstone.
IV.
23. attrib. and Comb., as twist-cop, twist hand, twist-loaf, twist manufacturer, twist service (sense 14), twist-spinning, twist tobacco; twist barrel, a gun-barrel formed of a spirally twisted strip or strips of iron; hence twist-barrelled a.; twist-bit, = twisted bit (twisted 4); twist-drill: see quot.; twist-frame, a throstle for spinning cotton; twist-gear, a gear in which the teeth are helices (Cent. Dict. Suppl. 1909); twist grip, a control operated manually by twisting, spec. one which serves as a hand-grip, and alters the throttle on a motor cycle or scooter, or the gears on a bicycle; twist-joint, Telegraphy, a joint made by placing the ends of two wires side by side and coiling each round the other for a few turns (Cent. Dict. 1891); twist knot, a figure-of-eight knot, repeated or continued so as to form a kind of plait; twist-lace = bobbin-net; † twist line: see twine n.1 4 b; twist-lock, a locking device for securing large containers to the trailers on which they are transported; twist-machine: see quot.; also a machine for cutting spiral mouldings in wood-work (Funk's Stand. Dict. 1895); twist-off, (a) Oil Industry (see quot. 1932); (b) attrib., that may be removed manually by twisting; twist-pinion = twist-wheel; twist-rail, a banister-rail characterized by a twisted or curved end or part; twist-shaft, the shaft of the twist-wheel; twist-stitch, an embroidery stitch: see quot.; twist-wheel, in a spinning-machine, a wheel by which the number of turns put into the yarn is determined; twist-yarn = sense 4 b (a).
1833J. Holland Manuf. Metal II. 98 The *twist barrels..are used for the most curious and expensive kinds of guns and pistols. 1881Greener Gun 81 The great step to the success of the double fowling-piece was the employment of twist barrels.
1858― Gunnery 189 A *twist barrelled gun.
1901J. Black's Illustr. Carp. & Build., Scaffolding 34 They must now be bored..with brace and *twist-bit.
1881Manch. Guard. 12 Jan., Medium counts of *twist and weft cops.
1875Knight Dict. Mech., *Twist-drill, (Metalworking) a drill having a twisted body like that of an auger. 1888Hasluck Model Engin. Handybk. (1900) 66 A twist-drill will run through easily and will leave two holes.
1819Encycl. Brit. Suppl. III. 396/2 The mule..contains a system of rollers like that belonging to the *twist frame.
1590Acc. Bk. W. Wray in Antiquary XXXII. 371 Cre[mosin] and black *twiste fringe..twiste blacke fringe.
1954J. Masters Bhowani Junction i. 13, I was bending over the handlebars, turning the *twist-grip throttle. 1962Engineering 2 Nov. 584 Travel controls consist of a twist⁓grip (the amount of twist governing the speed of travel) and a steering wheel. 1975Which? May 143/4 Twistgrip gear change. 1980Outdoor Life (U.S.) (Northeast ed.) Oct. 26/1 Several times I've bumped that twist grip accidentally, turning the motor on.
1886Daily News 20 Oct. 6/2 The *twist hands or workmen who have charge of a machine earned their..seven pounds a week.
1871Routledge's Ev. Boy's Ann. 246 The *twist knot is by no means so generally known. Dissected it is an ordinary ‘three plait’, though formed of one piece... If well done it forms a hard, tight, and compact long knot.
1840Civil Eng. & Arch. Jrnl. III. 432/1 Improvements in machinery, for..making figured or ornamental bobbin⁓net or *twist-lace.
1856Kane Arct. Expl. II. x. 100, I made my meat-ball like a *twist-loaf.
1969Jane's Freight Containers 1968–69 137/2 ‘Tie-down’ devices..are designed to mate with the bottom corners of the containers, which are fitted with *twist-locks. 1977Grimsby Even. Tel. 26 May 4/8 (Advt.), One new Crane Freuhauf 40 ft PSK twistlock trailer, available for hire, {pstlg}35 per week.
1875Knight Dict. Mech., *Twist-machine, one form of lace-making machine.
1800New Ann. Direct. 235 *Twist Manufacturers.
1932Amer. Speech VII. 271 *Twist-off.., a breaking off of the rotary drill pipe in the hole by torsional stress. 1964Supermarket & Self-Service May/June 19/2 The new twist-off cap. 1970W. Smith Gold Mine xiii. 38 The whole rig was seconds away from a twist-off. 1974P. L. Moore et al. Drilling Practices Manual ii. 14 Other limitations have to be considered such as..pipe wear and the danger of twist-offs. 1981A. Lopez Compl. Course in Canning (ed. 11) I. viii. 183 (caption) ‘Twist-off’ or Lug cap.
1879J. Robertson in Cassell's Techn. Educ. IV. 397/2 The *twist-pinion requires to be changed when any material alteration is made in the count of the yarn.
1778Encycl. Brit. (ed. 2) I. 618/1 Plate xxxviii. Shews the manner of squaring *twist⁓rails.
1901Munsey's Mag. XXV. 657/1 Mahony was beaten at Newport..chiefly through the *twist service.
1884W. S. B. McLaren Spinning (ed. 2) 139 The crown wheel..appears at first sight as if it were driven by the *twist shaft.
1825J. Nicholson Operat. Mechanic 387 In water *twist-spinning, the operation of stretching is not introduced.
1882Caulfeild & Saward Dict. Needlework 180/1 Cord Stitch, a stitch used in Embroidery to cover straight threads thrown across spaces, and not run into the material; also known as *Twist Stitch... Throw a line of thread across a space and fasten it firmly. Return the thread to where it first started from by twisting it over and over the straight and tight line first made.
1894H. Nisbet Bush Girl's Rom. 63 He would be reduced once more to the old patched suit and station *twist tobacco.
1851L. D. B. Gordon Art Jrnl. Illustr. Catal. p. vi**/2 The requisite quantity of twist..is regulated by the *twist-wheel.
1835Ure Philos. Manuf. 413 Spinning of *twist yarn is the sole business of the establishment. 1891Labour Commission Gloss. s.v., Twist yarn is used for the warps which run lengthwise in a piece of cloth... Twist yarn is always made much stronger than weft, and is so called because more twists per inch are put into the yarn while being spun.
▪ II. † twist, ? n.2 Obs. rare.
In 4 twyst-.
[Perhaps identical with the second element of OE. mæst-twist (glossing L. parastates), which may be connected with twist n.1 1–3.]
Used with line and rope to designate some part of the tackle of a vessel.
1336Acc. Exch. K.R. 20/20 (P.R.O.) De .xj. petris cordarum de Canabo..emptis..pro vno Twystrop inde faciendo. 1336–7Ibid. 19/31 m. 5 In vj. petris corde de canabo..pro vno boltrope vno Twystrope et j. lychrop. 1356in Pipe Roll 32 Edw. III, m. 34/2 (P.R.O.), xj. forloks. iij toppelynes, v. twystlyne [sic], vj tregetropes.
▪ III. twist, n.3 slang (chiefly U.S.).|twɪst|
[short for twist-and-twirl (also used), rhyming slang for girl.]
A girl, a young woman (freq. depreciatory).
1924Truth (Sydney) 27 Apr. 6 Twist and twirl, a girl. 1926Clues Nov. 162/2 Twist, a girl. 1927Dialect Notes V. 466 Twist, n., a loose woman. 1932[see dog-house b]. 1953‘R. Macdonald’ in H. Waugh Merchants of Menace (1969) 93, I hate to see it happen to a pretty little twist like Fern. 1956H. Gold Man who was not with It (1965) xvii. 154 I'm just as good as any of those Pittsburgh twist-and-twirls. 1979[see proposition n. 7 b].
▪ IV. twist, v.|twɪst|
Forms: 4–5 twiste, 4–6 twyst, 5 twyste, (4 tuyst), 6– twist. pa. tense and pple. twisted; also 4–5 twyst(e, twist(e; (pa. tense 5 tueste, 7 Sc. twust; pa. pple. 6–7 twist).
[Evidently (like twine v.1) a deriv. from the stem twi-, denoting either division in two (Branch I) or combination of two (threads, etc.) into one (Branch II). With the former cf. Flem., Du., and LG. twisten to disagree, quarrel (hence Da. tviste, Sw. tvista), Icel. tvistra or tvístra to scatter (also á tvist, OIcel. tvistróttr scattered); with the latter cf. older Flem. (Kilian) twisten to twine (thread), Da. dial. tviste, tweste. Branch III would be a natural development of II, though actually recorded a century earlier.
The meaning of twisteð in Trin. Coll. Hom. 213 is obscure, and the passage appears to be in some way corrupt.]
I. To divide, separate.
†1. intr. To divide into branches; to branch. Obs. rare.
1340Ayenb. 159 Yef þe onderstondingge is wrong, oþer yef huy tuysteþ..al þe inwyt ssel by þiestre... He tuysteþ ine tuo, huanne me wylneþ of one half to god, and of oþer⁓half to þe wordle. 1398Trevisa Barth. De P.R. v. xxi. (Bodl. MS.) lf. 12/1 The tunges of addres bene blacke..swifte in meuyng..þat meueþ þe tunge so swiftelich so þat on tunge semeþ iforked and twisted [orig. Qui tam velociter linguas agitat vt vna numero bifurcari videatur lingua].
2. trans.
a. To prune, clip. Obs. or dial.
1483Cath. Angl. 399/2 To Twyste, defrondare. 1535Coverdale Isa. v. 6, I will laye it waist, that it shall nether be twysted nor cut, but beare thornes and breares. ― 2 Esdras xvi. 43 He that twysteth the vynyarde, as he that shal not gather the grapes. 1672in W. Grainge Nidderdale (1863) 137 note, [The tenant also agrees] not to cut, fell, or twist the wood standing and growing thereon.
†b. fig. To detach, separate, take away. Obs.
c1440J. Capgrave St. Kath. i. 103 He prechyd so ther þat [he] hem alle twyst [v.r. twyste] Fro all her maumentrye & fals be-leue. Ibid. ii. 866, I haue ȝit no list Þat ony man my maydynhod schuld twyst.
II. To combine, unite, and derived senses.
3. a. trans. To combine two or more yarns or fibres of (any suitable material) into a thread or cord by spinning; to form (a thread or cord) by spinning the yarns or strands. Also absol.
1471Mann. & Househ. Exp. (Roxb.) 551 Alys Haweryng hat spowne and cardyd and twystyd tweyntey pownde of ȝerne. 1530Palsgr. 764/2, I twyst threde, I twyne threde. This terme is northren; declared in ‘I twyne’. 1595Shakes. John iv. iii. 128 The smallest thred That euer Spider twisted from her wombe Will serue to strangle thee. 1599T. M[oufet] Silkwormes 73 Man and maide Whilst winding, twisting, and in weauing, thay Now laugh, now chide. 1650W. Brough Sacr. Princ. (1659) 458 Cords..if well twist and made will bind and hold any though never so strong. 1690Luttrell Brief Rel. (1857) II. 3, 6000 l. worth of hay is already bought on the river Severn and ordered to be twisted and sent on board. 1725De Foe Voy. round World (1840) 347 Tow-lines..they supplied by twisting a strong tough kind of flag or rush. 1796Morse Amer. Geog. I. 557 Manufactory for spinning and twisting cotton. 1844G. Dodd Textile Manuf. vi. 184 Organzine, besides being wound, cleaned, and doubled, is twisted or thrown twice.
b. fig. or in fig. context.
1599Shakes. Much Ado i. i. 313 Was't not to this end, That thou beganst to twist so fine a story? 1643Herle David's Song 5 A double string,..twisted of two parts into a kind of discordant concord. 1663Butler Hud. i. i. 157 He a rope of sand could twist As tough as learned Sorbonist. 1760–72H. Brooke Fool of Qual. (1809) III. 18 It twists the sacred and endearing cord of society. 1872Bagehot Physics & Pol. (1876) 120 His life is twisted into a thousand curious habits. 1884F. M. Crawford Rom. Singer I. 17, I am trying hard to twist a rope of which I never held the other end.
c. transf. To plait, weave, twine, wreathe.
a1592T. Watson Poems (Arb.) 15 Where Lawrell wreath's are twist for them alone, Whose gals are burst with often tasted sowre. 1693Patent Specif. No. 313 A certaine Engine or Machine for the Makeing or Twisting of Whips. 1760–72H. Brooke Fool of Qual. (1809) III. 6 To twist the garland of your blessedness. 1878M. A. Brown Nadeschda 20 Of straw a girdle twisted up.
4. To join or unite by twining or interlacing; to twine together; to entwine (one thing) with or † to another; to intertwine, interweave.
1563Golding Cæsar vii. (1565) 225 Fyue rowes of them ioyned and twysted one wythin another, so that whosoeuer ventured in, must nedes gore them selues vppon the sharpe pointes of the stakes. 1601Holland Pliny xvii. xxiii. I. 537 These meet one with another in the space betweene, and are interlaced, twisted, and tied together. 1634Sir T. Herbert Trav. 94 The people..thought to forbid..his desired entrance, by twisting one tree to another. 1687A. Lovell tr. Thevenot's Trav. i. 22 A Pillar made of three brazen Serpents twisted together. 1756–7tr. Keysler's Trav. (1760) I. 234 The seat..is made of bark and ropes twisted together. 1825Scott Talism. viii, A small silken bag made of net⁓work, twisted with silver. Ibid. xxvii, The sashes were twisted with silk and gold. 1827Faraday Chem. Manip. xxiv. (1842) 632 Twist together five or six folds of steel harpsichord wire.
5. fig.
a. To unite, combine, connect, associate intimately, like strands in a cord.
1573–80Baret Alv. T 460 To bind, or twist hard together, to mingle so together that one cannot tell what the thing meaneth. 1639Fuller Holy War iii. xxiv. (1840) 160 John de Bren..to twist his title with another string, married Maria Jole. 1646–8G. Daniel Tomb Earl Strafford ii, Our Monarch's Fate Was twist in his. 1652Benlowes Theoph. i. xcvi, Make arts thy tributaries, twist heart, tongue and pen. 1697Dryden æneid xi. 561 Pity your own, or pity our Estate; Nor twist our Fortunes with your sinking Fate. 1712M. Henry Commun. w. God i. Wks. 1853 I. 205/1 God has been pleased therein to twist interests with us. 1731W. Bowman Serm. Vers. 24 The church then with the state was twisted.
b. twist in, to initiate or swear in as a member or associate of the Luddites. twist out: see quot. 1883; also lit., to get out (a strand) from a cord by unravelling it.
1812Chron. in Ann. Reg. 63/1 Offering five guineas bounty, and 15s. per week to all that would be twisted in. 1813B. Walker in Examiner 11 Jan. 21/2 The murder was well known amongst those twisted in. 1883Almondbury & Huddersfield Gloss., Twisted out, after the trials at York, an order in Council directed that..the Luddites..should go before a magistrate, and be twisted out, as it was called; that is, they took the Oath of Allegiance. 1887J. Hutchison Lect. Philippians iv. 35 The whole cordage..has a red thread moving throughout it, which cannot be twisted out without undoing it all.
c. fig. To entangle or mix up with something; to get into a tangled or confused state; to confuse, confound.
1863Susan Warner Old Helmet 179 The question..was inextricably twisted up with the other question. 1908Rider Haggard Ghost Kings viii, They had twisted up the story..into that [story] which they had narrated to her.
6. To wind or coil (a thread or the like) on or round something; to attach in this way; to encircle (an object) with or as with a thread, etc.; to entwine in something else.
1582Stanyhurst æneis ii. (Arb.) 66, I twisted a wallet On my broad shoulders. 16..in Burton Scot Abroad I. iii. 150 He had long hair platt over his neck, whilk David Home..twust to his saddle-bow. 1710W. King Heathen Gods & Heroes x. (1722) 34 His Thighs were all twisted round with Folds of Vipers. 1820W. Irving Sketch Bk. I. 51 A few wild flowers were twisted in her fine hair. 1825T. Hook Sayings Ser. ii. Sutherl. I. 21 Jane ran to a looking-glass and..twisted her limp ringlets round her long pale fingers into apologies for curls. Ibid., Passion & Princ. xii. III. 268 Twisting silk on bits of cards cut star-wise. 1870J. Hamilton Moses v. 99 A sinful habit entwined and twisted round your souls. 1885‘Mrs. Alexander’ At Bay x, Lambert twisted the comforter round his throat and face.
7. intr. and refl. To pass or move in a tortuous manner; to coil or twine about or round; to penetrate into something with a tortuous movement or action.
1635Quarles Embl. iv. xii. 43 O how these Armes..did twine, And strongly twist about his yeelding wast! 1644Evelyn Diary 7 Mar., A fountaine of serpents twisting about a globe. a1652J. Smith Sel. Disc. i. (1821) 7 Any filthy vice..perpetually twisting itself into the thread of our finest spun speculations. 1705Addison Italy 391 (Sienna) Great Columns..finely engraven with Fruits and Foliage that run twisting about 'em from the very Top to the Bottom. 1774Goldsm. Nat. Hist. (1776) VII. 227 They [boas]..will dart down upon travellers, and twist themselves so closely round their bodies, as to dispatch them in a very few minutes. 1849Cupples Green Hand xvi, Flowers, trailing and twisting in thick snaky coils close up the stems. 1850Hawthorne Scarlet L. iii, A writhing horror twisted itself across his face. 1851Ruskin Stones Ven. I. App. viii. 364 The weeds..have twisted themselves into its crannies.
III. To wring, wrench.
†8. trans. To compress with a turning movement; to wring; also fig. to torment, harass. Obs.
Cf. tuaste pa. tense (c 1325) in Ritson Metr. Rom. II. 272.
c1374Chaucer Troylus iv. 226 (254) Þe furye and þe rage Whiche þat his herte twyste & faste þreste. c1384― H. Fame ii. 267 For whan a pipe is blowen sharpe The aire ys twyst with violence And rent. c1386― Wife's Prol. 494 Ther was no wight saue god and he þat wiste In many wise how soore I hym twiste. ― Merch. T. 761 She taketh hym by the hand and harde hym twiste.
9. a. To wring out of place or shape, or so as to change the shape; esp. to force (a limb, etc.) round so as to sprain it; to wrench. to twist up, to screw up into a rounded form. Also refl.
c1530Hickscorner B ij, Imag... At tyburne..Some there taketh a fall that maketh theyr necke lame. Frewyll. Ye but can they go no more? Imag. Oh no man. The wrest is twyst so sore. 1655Fuller Ch. Hist. ix. vii. §36 The Doctor fairly twisted his wrists almost to the breaking thereof. c1803C. K. Sharpe New Oxford Guide ii, I twisted my ancle—foment it with grease. 1827Carlyle Misc., Richter (1857) I. 2 This mirror is so twisted with convexities. 1844W. H. Maxwell Wand. Highl. II. xxi. 249 Twisting the neck of a skoray, or young kittiwake. 1857Hughes Tom Brown i. viii, [He] seized him [Tom] and twisted his arm. 1865Dickens Mut. Fr. i. vi, It seemed to twist itself into some likeness of boughs.
†b. spec. to twist a horse: see quot. Obs.
1727–41Chambers Cycl. s.v., To twist a horse, is violently to wring or twist his testicles twice about, which causes them to dry up, and deprives them of nourishment.
c. pass. To be hanged. slang.
1725New Cant. Dict., Twisted, executed, hanged. 1811Lexicon Balatr. s.v. Nose, His pall nosed, and he was twisted for a crack,..was hanged for burglary.
d. to twist the tail (of a person): to annoy, to coerce (someone). to twist the lion's tail (U.S.): to provoke the resentment of British people.
1895Lit. Digest 25 May 112/2 Papers in the U.S. take to shouting ‘Hands off!’ to England... Twisting the lion's tail is a regular electioneering maneuver. 1909‘O. Henry’ Roads of Destiny xvi. 259 [He] twisted the tail of a Connecticut insurance company that was trying to do business contrary to the edicts of the great Lone Star State. 1926E. L. Abbey Twist of Lion's Tail 9 John Bull takes the lion for his emblem... Twist the lion's tail and how he hollers! 1935‘N. Blake’ Question of Proof v. 91 Revenge seems to me least likely. Grown men don't kill boys just because they've had their tails twisted by them. 1956A. Wilson Anglo-Saxon Attitudes i. iv. 173 I get a good deal of amusement twisting both their ‘advanced’ tails, particularly the egregious parson's. 1965P. O'Donnell Modesty Blaise vi. 72 So they were going to twist his tail for a while. Well,..the side-effects would have to be accepted stoically. 1979E. Newman Sunday Punch vii. 58, I took a silent vow never again to twist the lion's tail editorially.
e. to twist (someone's) arm: to force or persuade someone to do something. Also used joc. when no coercion is needed, esp. with reference to drinking.
1953Word for Word (Whitbread & Co.) 36/2 Twist one's arm, to ‘persuade’ one to have a drink, when no persuasion is needed. 1953Berrey & Van den Bark Amer. Thes. Slang (1954) §221/2 Force; compel.. twist one's arm. Ibid. §223/5 Induce; persuade..twist one's arm. 1968C. Cooper Thunder & Lightning Man iv. 65 The National Trust, in their genteel fashion, are beginning to twist my arm. The property must be made to pay its way. 1972G. Bell Villains Galore v. 57 ‘That looks a very nice little pub over there.’.. ‘All right—you've twisted my arm enough,’ admitted Boote. 1977G. Scott Hot Pursuit xii. 108 If you'd twisted my arm I would have had to admit that it was even important enough to justify the risks. 1982H. Engel Ransom Game xxv. 154, I let him twist my arm into taking a Scotch with water.
10. a. To turn awry; to screw up or contract (the features, etc.); to contort, distort.
1789W. Buchan Dom. Med. (1790) 433 In the fit..his extremities are bent or twisted various ways. 1818Scott Hrt. Midl. xlvi, Sorely did he twist about his physiognomy, and much did he stumble in his speech, before he could express his idea. 1859Tennyson Lancelot & Elaine 1139 The dumb old servitor..Winking his eyes, and twisted all his face. 1867A. J. Wilson Vashti xxx, A bitter smile twisted the muscles about Mrs. Gerome's mouth. 1898‘H. S. Merriman’ Roden's Corner viii, At times he twisted his lips, moistening them with his tongue.
b. fig. To wrest the form or meaning of; to pervert; to distort; to force a meaning from.
1821Scott Kenilw. xiv, Twisting into all manner of uncouth and incomprehensible forms of speech the honest plain English phrase which God gave us to express our meaning withal. 1829Lytton Disowned xlviii, I tried to twist her words into a hundred meanings. 1853Kingsley Hypatia viii, A mere logician, twisting Aristotle to mean what she knew..Aristotle never meant. 1871Palgrave Lyr. Poems 120 A law no guile can twist to harm. 188319th Cent. May 730 Twisting my opinions into accordance with a party.
11. To force down, pull off or out with a turning strain; to wrench or wring off, etc. Also fig.
1784Cowper Task iv. 62 A demagogue..with a dexterous jerk soon twists him down [from the summit of ambition]. 1804C. B. Brown tr. Volney's View Soil U.S. (Philad. ed.) 140 They [whirlwinds] twist off and lay level the largest trees. 1823Scott Quentin D. v, Untwining his gold chain from his neck, Balafré twisted off, with his firm and strong-set teeth, about four inches from the one end of it. 1838James Robber vi, These foxes have almost twisted my thumbs off. 1890Gunter Miss Nobody xiii, A summons or writ or some other cursed legal thumb-screw to twist the dollars out of my pocket!
12. a. To form into a spiral; to bend, curve, or coil spirally; to screw up.
a1744Pope (J.), Either double it into a pyramidical, or twist it into a serpentine form. 1765Sterne Tr. Shandy VIII. xi, By all that is hirsute and gashly! I cry, taking off my furred cap, and twisting it round my finger. 1818Scott Br. Lamm. xxi, A cow chased by a whole nest of hornets, and her tail twisted over her rump like a corkscrew. a1839Praed Poems (1864) I. 326 Twisting up his songs Into the sweetest candlepapers. 1843Holtzapffel Turning I. 207 Some twist the iron before hammering to prevent it from becoming ‘spilly’. 1858Greener Gunnery 195, I found that the inside was entirely composed of iron, over which the covering of Damascus had been twisted. 1861Bentley Man. Bot. 512 Flowers usually symmetrical... Petals twisted in æstivation. 1875Bennett & Dyer Sachs' Bot. 838 When the tendrils have fixed themselves by their extremities, they draw the stem towards the support by twisting themselves spirally. 1906Marj. Bowen Viper of Milan x, He turned back into the corridor, twisting the ends of his scarlet robe between his fingers.
b. to twist (a person) round one's finger, to have completely under one's influence; so to turn, twist, and wind (one): cf. turn v. 64.
1780Mirror No. 95 ⁋7 At the first glance I saw into him, and could now twist him round my finger. 1787F. Burney Diary Aug., You turn, twist, and wind me just as you like. 1840Dickens Barn. Rudge vi, Women may twist me round their fingers at their pleasure. 1855Kingsley Westw. Ho! xxix, The man has twisted the whole council round his finger.
c. intr. for refl. or pass.
1881Greener Gun 224 The rod is carefully watched while twisting, and should one part commence to twist more rapidly than another [etc.]. a1886in C. E. Pascoe Lond. of To-day xl. (ed. 3) 337 Seams are crooked and wrinkle, sleeves twist, the chest is tight,..&c. &c. The arrival of a new dress brings with it agonies.
d. trans. To cheat, to defraud. slang.
1914Jackson & Hellyer Vocab. Criminal Slang 95 They had to learn awareness in the school of cold, hard facts, having been..‘twisted’..times innumerable. 1956People 13 May 2/3 Don't imagine that all the boys in the trade are out to twist you. 1967P. Ryan How I became Yorkshireman xv. 95 He were..content to be twisted daft wi'out mekking a mouse-squeak after value for his brass.
e. trans. and intr. Insurance. To induce someone to change a policy from one company to another. Cf. twisting vbl. n. 5.
1924Webster Add., Twist, v.t. Life Insurance. To induce (a person) to drop a policy already in force in a company other than that of the twisting agent for one in the agent's company.—twister, n. 1936Sun (Baltimore) 29 July 16/2 He expressed the hope that any agent found ‘twisting’ or attempting to discourage policyholders in the Pacific Mutual not to retain their insurance would be reported to the Insurance Division.
13. intr. and trans. To eat heartily; also to twist (food) down. slang.
1694Motteux Rabelais v. v. 17 Twist like Plough-jobbers, and Swill like Tinkers. Ibid. xxvii. 132 They us'd to twist store of Holy-bread, Cakes, Buns, Puffs, Lenten-Loaves, Jumbals and Biscuits. a1700B. E. Dict. Cant. Crew, Twist, to Eat. To Twist lustily, to Feed like a Farmer. 1785Grose Dict. Vulg. T. s.v. Twist, To twist it down apace, to eat heartily. 1817–18Cobbett Resid. U.S. (1822) 165 She will twist down a half pound of beef with her ‘potatoe’, and has twisted down half a pound of buttered toast in the morning.
IV. To rotate, etc.
14. a. trans. To cause to rotate as on an axis; to turn (anything) round so as to alter its position or aspect. to twist one's fingers, to turn one's fingers about nervously.
1789W. Buchan Dom. Med. (1790) 589 He must pull the head with considerable force, gently twisting it at the same time, if the face be turned to one side, till he perceives that the joint is replaced. 1796F. Burney Camilla IV. 80 She twisted it..hastily round, to hide the hand-writing of the direction. 1827Scott Surg. Dau. vi, I will twist your head round till your eyes look at the drummer's hand⁓writing on your back. 1864Lowell Fireside Trav. 264 Blocks of stone,..lowered, tipped, twisted, undermined, and generally capsized by the rains and frosts of centuries. 1885‘Mrs. Alexander’ Valerie's Fate vi, Speak then, you stupid child, and don't stop short to twist your fingers.
b. Cricket. In bowling, to give a lateral spin to (the ball), so that it ‘breaks’ or turns aside on rebounding.
1816W. Lambert Instructions & Rules for playing Cricket 20 The Ball may be twisted by the usual mode of under-armed Bowling. 1833J. Nyren Yng. Cricketer's Tutor 118 If either of your bowlers twist his balls, favour such twist as much as possible.
c. intr. To dance the twist (twist n.1 13 c).
1961Guardian 30 Dec. 5/3 It is a week with only one new film, a small loud monstrosity called ‘Hey, Let's Twist’. 1968J. Updike Couples ii. 166 Frank was grotesquely Twisting..opposite Carol Constantine.
15. a. intr. To rotate, revolve; also, to turn so as to face another way.
1680Moxon Mech. Exerc. x. 177 A strong Iron Screw..with a square Shank near the Head, that..it may not twist about. 1850Tennyson In Mem. ci. 12 When the lesser wain Is twisting round the polar star. 1857Hughes Tom Brown ii. viii, The ball comes skimming and twisting along about three feet from the ground. 1907J. H. Patterson Man-Eaters of Tsavo xviii. 199 As we moved, the lion also twisted round and so always kept his head full on us.
b. In Vingt-et-un, to receive a card dealt face upwards; also, to deal a card in this manner. Occas. trans. and as imp. Also fig. Cf. stick v.1 6 e.
1921P. Alston Card Games 121 If it is not desired to buy, the usual expression is to say ‘Twist’. Ibid. 122 Having bought a player can then twist; but once having twisted, a card cannot be bought. 1939Phillips & Westall Compl. Bk. Card Games 194 The player can either buy cards or can have them ‘twisted’..; a card twisted is turned face upwards. Ibid., B has a 9 and a 5; he says ‘twist me one’. 1963G. F. Hervey Handbk. Card Games 285 He can twist: that is to say he elects to receive a card face upwards. 1972Guardian 12 Oct. 1/3 Every pontoon player will understand the dilemma of the Tory chiefs. They are undecided whether to stick or twist on a relatively modest hand of cards. 1976J. Archer Not a Penny More, Not a Penny Less xii. 136 The young man on Harvey's left also drew a ten and asked the dealer to twist again.
16. intr. To turn aside and proceed in a new direction; spec. of a ball (at cricket, etc.): to turn aside or ‘break’ on rebounding; also, to proceed with frequent turns (often associated with turn); to follow a circuitous route; to wind, meander.
1800T. Boxall Rules & Instructions for Playing Cricket 18 When the ball goes out of a bowler's hand he must endeavour to make it twist a little. 1833J. Nyren Yng. Cricketer's Tutor 45 If the ball be struck to his right hand, he will surely find it twist to his left. 1851Lillywhite Guide Cricketers 15 Try every manœuvre to make the ball twist and shoot after it touches the ground. 1852Dickens Bleak Ho. iv, We just twist up Chancery Lane. 1863W. C. Baldwin Afr. Hunting vii. 257 He turned, dodged, and twisted from side to side, with amazing quickness. 1879S. C. Bartlett Egypt to Pal. xiii. 289 The valley or ravine twisted this way and that. 1895Review of Rev. Aug. 168 The stream twists down through the valley. 1906Marj. Bowen Viper of Milan x, The steps were few in number, before they twisted abruptly out of sight. |