3  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Flinch  \Flinch\,  n. 
  The  act  of  flinching. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Flinch  \Flinch\,  v.  i.  [imp.  &  p.  p.  {Flinched};  p.  pr  &  vb  n. 
  {Flinching}.]  [Prob.  fr  OE  flecchen  to  waver,  give  way  F. 
  fl['e]chir,  fr  L.  flectere  to  bend;  but  prob.  influenced  by 
  E.  blench.  Cf  {Flex}.] 
  1.  To  withdraw  from  any  suffering  or  undertaking,  from  pain 
  or  danger;  to  fail  in  doing  or  perserving;  to  show  signs 
  of  yielding  or  of  suffering;  to  shrink;  to  wince;  as  one 
  of  the  parties  flinched  from  the  combat. 
 
  A  child,  by  a  constant  course  of  kindness,  may  be 
  accustomed  to  bear  very  rough  usage  without 
  flinching  or  complaining.  --Locke. 
 
  2.  (Croquet)  To  let  the  foot  slip  from  a  ball,  when 
  attempting  to  give  a  tight  croquet. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  flinch 
  n  :  a  reflex  response  to  sudden  pain  [syn:  {wince}] 
  v  :  draw  back  as  with  fear  [syn:  {squinch},  {funk},  {cringe},  {shrink}, 
  {wince},  {recoil},  {quail}] 

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