twichild 
Anil when tliuw Shalt gr<>\\ lm/rliil'l. sin- will I" I 
Carcfull :mil kiiiilu (religiously) to tin > . 
Hnrirn, SoOOrgtOi roily, \i. 2 IS. (l/atliirell.) 
twickt (Iwik). r. [< ME. hn/./.ni. liri/l.-l.-iii : tin- 
im:issiliil:iteil form of tiritrltl. < 'f. //r,,//.l ainl 
firif/2.'J I. iYn.v. Totwciik; twitch. 
Vuiilu leves puld to be ... 
W 1th fyngers lightly '"'.'(A- linn (nun the tree. 
PaUutlins, llnsli<mdrie(K. K. T. .), p. l.'.n. 
II. intriiiix. To jerk or liiiul, as ut, a rope. 
<iunrtm Tttrtnr. Sinn can firi/*, who Bo It la, 
Sekoa easse on wun kyn syde. 
rrimtn Tartar. It is better, as I hope, 
Oonu liy hi* Mrlf to draw this rope. 
Tounifky MijKteriei, p. 220. 
twick (twik), n. [< tirick, v. Cf. tiritclii, n., 
iuiil tiri;/-.] A twitch ; a tweak ; a sudden jerk. 
l/iilliirrll. [Prov. Eii(,'-] 
twick-bine (twik'lun). . The rowan, I'yrus 
.tiii'ii/iiiriii. /iri/lt H unit Holland. [Prov. Eng.] 
twiddle (twid'l), r. ; prot. and pp. tiriddlcd, ppr. 
Iwiildlint/. [Formerly also twiale, also ticeedle; 
origin obscure. Cf. quiddle.] I. trans. 1. To 
twirl idly ; hence, to fiddle or play with. 
"May I be allowed to walk with you as far as your 
house?" says Philip, twiddling a little locket which he 
wore at his watch-chain. Thackeray, 1'liilip, xiv. 
Straw colored crickets that sit and twiddle their long 
antenna; at you as if they never intended moving again. 
P. JhiliiiiMin, Under the Sun, p. 72. 
Then he sat silent for a moment, staring into the fire 
andficiddftw/his thumbs, unconsciousof what lie was do- 
lug. Mm. Oliphaitt, Poor Gentleman, ix. 
2. To move or propel by repeated light touches. 
With my fingers upon the stupe, I pressed close upon 
It, and ( ir'idled it In, tlrst one side, then the other. 
Wiseman, Surgery. 
To twiddle one's fingers, to do nothing ; be Idle. [Col- 
II. intriins. 1. To twirl; revolve. 
She rose, . . . made a majestic courtesy, during which 
all the bugles in her awdil head-dress began to twiddle 
and (juiver. Thackeray, Book of Snobs, xxlv. 
2. To play or trifle with something, as by 
touching or handling ; toy. 
Mai in, I seed him a tiriddliny with your gown. He 
done it for a lark arter the fair, and ought to stand some- 
thing. MH I/In- n; London Labour and London Poor, I. 481. 
3. To be busy about trifles ; quiddle. [Prov. 
Eng.] 
twiddle (twid'l), w. {_< twiddle, v.] 1. A slight 
twirl with the fingers. 2. A pimple. [Prov. 
En; " 
8BB1 
twig-rnsh 
twig-blight (twig'blit). a. See /niii--liluilit, iin- 
ilei- WgMt, 
twig-borer (twi^'lior'er), n. One of numerous 
small beetles which bore the twigs of trees, as 
< 
Twig-borer (jlmfhicer 
a, t, beetle, dorsal and Mete views ; f. twig showing entrance ; </, twjg 
cut to show burrow. 
twiddler (twid'ler), . [< twiddle + -crl.] One 
who or that which twiddles. 
They |Centaurs|, their tn-ii-fultl bosoms ovcr-gorg'd, 
"Iiiios'd in tight to Thfsi-M^. 
Cory, tr. o( Dante's Purgatory, xxiv. 121. 
twifold (twi'ffild), inlr. \ < M !:. lirifold : < tin- 
fold, n.] In a twofold manner or measure. 
[Archaic.] 
Your T beard Is the fashion, 
And in iii.l'l doth express the enamour'd courtier. 
t'lelclier (and another), Queen o( Corinth, iv. " 
twiforkedt (twi'forkt), . [Also ()//</./, 
twi- -I- fork + -erf 2 .] Two-forked; b'iforked. 
but this [shaft] exceeds, and with her flaming head, 
Twi-ftirk'd with death, has struck my conscience dead. 
Quartet, Emblems, 11. 13. 
twifprmt (twi'f&rm), n. [Also twyj'orin ; <. ttri- 
+ form.] Same as twiformed. 
She had there been left 
A guard upon the wain, which I beheld 
Bound to the tvufvrm beast (the gryphon). 
Gary, tr. of Dante's Purgatory, mil. 96. ' '"/ 
twiformedt (twi'fdrmd), a. [Also ttcyformed; 
< tioi- + form + -erf 2 .] Having a double form ; 
biform. 
The eye of heanen did rowle the house about 
Of that fell twi-form'd Archer. 
Daviet, Scourge of Folly, p. 23. (Daria.) 
twig 1 (twig), n. [ME. twig, ttcyg (pi. twigges, 
twygges), with shortened vowel, earlier twig, 
twi (pi. twige.s), with long vowel, < AS. twig 
(pi. twigu) = D. twijg = LG. ticich = OHG. ;in</. 
zwi, MHG. zv:ic (zwig-), act, G. zweig, a twig; 
perhaps, with a formative -</, orig. -j,< twi-, etc., twiggen-workt (twig'n-werk), . 
two, with ref. to a forked twig ; cf. twisnel, a work, 
forked twig, from the same source.] 1. A 
small shoot of a tree or other plant ; a small 
branch; a spray. 
Take ferules eke, or saly twygget take 
Ye may. 
PaUadiui, Hnsbondrie (E. E. T. 8.), p. 38. 
We liken a young childe to a greene ticiyge, which ye 
may easille bende euery way ye list 
Puttenham, Artc of Eng. Poesie, p. 205. 
Who set the Tirig* shall he remember 
That is in Haste to sell the Timber? 
Prior, Alma, ill. 
2. A divining-rod. 
The latest revival among old beliefs is that in the divin- 
ing-rod. "Our liberal shepherds give it a shorter name," twig-girdler (twig'ger'dler) 
and so do our conservative peasants, calling the "rod of * f , in ^ iT D fii ii.,*; 
Jacob" the twig. Cornhill Mag., XL VII. 83. 
3. In cerain., a thin strip of prepared clay used 
in modeling a pottery vessel, especially in the 
imitation basket work common in Lieeds pottery. 
To hop the twig. See hopi. To work the twig, 
to use the divining-rod. Carnhill Mag., XLVII. 83. 
the grape amf the apple in the United States, 
'bug), n. Same as xlirk-linii, 1. 
'_ a. [< twig 1 + -erf 2 .] Having 
s or small shoots. 
;ent (twig'n), a. [< ttciij 1 + -e>fl.] 1. 
M iiTle of twigs or osier ; wicker. 
A large basket or Itrigam panier. 
Holland, tr. of Pliny, xvli. 10. 
2. Covered with osier or wicker. 
Ill beat the knave into a twiggen liottle. 
Shalt., Othello, II. 3. 152. 
Wicker- 
An Indian dish or potager, made of the bark of a tree, 
with the sides and rim sewed together after the manner 
of twiggenworlt. If. Grew, Museum. 
twigger (twig'er), n. 1. One who or that which 
is active or energetic. Compare twig 1 , r. i. 
Twinlings be tiriggert, increase for to bring. 
y'l'.wrr, January's Husbandry. 
2f. A wanton person of either sex. 
Now, Benedicite, her mother said ; 
And hast thou beene already such a twigger > 
Patauil'i Fight Cap (1012). (Nartt.) 
The mother of her was a good twigger the whilst. 
Middleton, So Wit like a Woman's, Iv. 1. 
"Give you fair warning look out, you know 
all," said the inustacllio tieiddler. 
Thackeray, Vanity Fair, xiv. 
twiddling-line (twid'Ung-lin), . It. A small 
rope securing a ship's steering-wheel when not 
in use. 2. A string fastened to one of the 
gimbals of a compass, and having its end hang- 
ing out of the binnacle so that the helmsman 
may by pulling it cause the compass-card to 
plav freely. 
twidlet, f" See twiddle. 
twiet (twi), Hilr. [ME., also twye, < AS. twiica, 
twice, (. twi-, twa, two : see twi- and two. Hence 
In '., now lifiee. Cf. tltrit^.] Two times; twice. 
Ihc ojte dele tuye with rijte, 
O [onc| deth for the, on other for me. 
King Horn (E. E. T. 8.), p. 70. 
twier (twi'er), . Same as twyer. 
twiest, '"''' An old spelling of twice. 
twifacedt (twi'fast), a. [Also twyfaced; < tici- 
+ faced.] Having two faces; hence, deceitful. 
And ticyfac'd fraud and beetle-brow'd distrust 
Ovaries, Emblems, v. 14. 
twifallOWt (twi'fal'6), v. t. [Also twyfallote; 
< twi- + fallow-.] To plow a second time, as 
fallow laud, to prepare it for seed. 
In May, at the furthest, tti\falluK thy land, 
Much drought may else after cause plough for to stand. 
Tuxwr, May's Husbandry. 
For my owne part, I was never so good a husband to 
take any delight to heare one of my ploughmen tell how 
an acre of wheat must be fallowed and twyf allowed. 
Sir J. Haringtan, Apol. of Poetry. 
twifallOWt (twi'fal'6), n. [< twifallow, v.] The 
process of twifallowing land. 
Twtfalloir once ended, Ret tumbrell and man, 
And compass that fallow, as soon as ye cm. 
Ttisser, May's Husbandry. 
twifoil (twi't'oil), H. [Fonnerly also ttci/foil; < 
tin'- + foil 1 .] In her., same as dufoil. 
twifold (twi'fold), a. [Formerly also twofold; 
< ME. tirifiilit. tiril'alil, < AS. iiriffiild = OFries. 
t ir if aid = OIK!. ~ifi/ii!l. MHG. fwiwrfl (f). .-wiV- 
famg) =Icel. tvjfaldr, twofold; as ttri- + -fold. 
'('f. twofold.] Twofold. [Archaic.] 
twig 1 (twig), v. ; pret. and pp. tuiuged, ppr. 
that's twigging. [<. twig', n.] I. trans. To switch; 
beat, ffalliin-ll. ' 
twiggy (twig'i), a. . 
II. intrant. To be vigorous or active; be en- + -JT-J 1. Consisting of or 
n. A longicom beetle, Onci- 
deres cinyulatua, which gir- 
dles twigs of apple, oak, and 
other trees in the United 
States, producing a decay- 
ing condition of the wood 
fitting it as food for the 
larvte. 
[< 
ergetic. Halliwell. [Prov. Eng.] 
Ewes yearly by twinning rich masters do make ; 
The lamb of such twlnners for breeders go take : 
For twinlings be twiggers, increase for to bring, 
Though some for their ttrigging peccavi may sing. 
I'll-" r. January's Husbandry. 
twig 2 (twig), v. t. ; pret. and pp. twigged, ppr. 
twigging. [A var. of ticick, unassibilated form 
of twitch : see ticick, twitch^, and cf. ttceak^.] To 
twitch; jerk. [Scotch.] 
Not one kynge hath bene In Englaude sens the conquest 
but they haue twyyged hym one way or other, and had 
theyr false flynges at him. Bp. Bale, Apology, fol. 142. 
Let rantin billies tmg the string, 
An' for anlther mutchkin ring. 
(Jamifxni.) 
resembling twigs; made of 
twigs. 
Small Imijyie stalkes. 
Oerarde, Herball (1599), p. 804. 
Oziers . . . are of innumerable 
Kinds, . . . being so much smaller 
than the Sallows, . . . and requir- 
ing constant moisture. It likewise 
yields more limber and flexible 
twigs . . . for all wicker and twig- 
gy works. Evelyn, Sylva, I. 20. 
2. Full of twigs. 
They (the black withies) grow the slowest of all the 
twiggy trees. Evelyn, Sylva, L 2(1. 
twightH. An obsolete past participle of tiriteli 1 . 
twight 2 t, '' An erroneous spelling of twit. 
Twig-girdler (OHci&rtt 
a, beetle; b. point of 
oviposition : c, girdling 
of the twig i t, egg. 
Morison, Poems, p. 78. 
twig 2 (twig), >i. [< ticig^, v. Cf. twictc, timiiH, Spenser,'Y. Q., V. yi. 12. 
w.] A twitch; a jerk; a quick, sudden pull, twig-insect (twig'in'sekt), H. 
Jamieson. [Scotch.] bug, 1. Also twig-bug. 
twig 3 (twig), v. ; pret. and pp. ticitjged, ppr. 
tirii/ying. [Prob. < Ir. tuigim, I understand, 
discern, = Gael, tuig, understand.] I. trans. 
1. To notice; observe narrowly; watch. 
Mug. Gentlemen of the Corporation of Garratt 
Same as stict- 
"The so-called stick insects," or "walking-twigs," as 
they are often called the 1'hasmido? of the naturalist, 
"these twig ituectt." R. Proctor, Nature Studies. 
twigless (twig'les), a. [< ticig 1 + -less.] Lack- 
ing twigs. 
Unbranching and ttciglegg stems. 
Heel-Tap. Now, twig him ; now, mind him ; mark how 
he hawls his muscles about 
Foote, Mayor of Garratt, ii. 2. twig-pruner (twig prS'ner), n. 
Nature, XLII. 161. 
A longicom 
The word seems to have got into English through the 
ugliest kind of jargon, as in the choice morsel of thieves' 
cant " twig the cull, he 's peery " : " observe the fellow, he 
is watching." MaemOlan'i Mag. (Imp. Diet.) 
2. To comprehend; understand; perceive; dis- 
cover. 
beetle of the genus Elaphidum. The larva; of the 
parallel twig-pruner, K. parallelum, live in the twigs of 
oak- and apple-trees and other forest- and fruit-trees in the 
northern I nited States, and pupate in their burrows. The 
beetles oviposit by preference in the cut ends of twigs, and 
the larva? work into the live wood by boring down the cen- 
ter. See cut under Elaphidion, and compare ttng-ttorer. 
From the sudden erubescence of his pallid, ill-fed cheek, twig-nish (twig'rush), . A plant of the cy- 
T t __ .' ____ T . .. -. . 1.... K., .1; I.. 1 . f.t n . nn l< 1 ...... ..!...( .. * 
I twigged at once that he didn't himself know what 
it meant Dr. J. Brmrn, Spare Hours, 1st ser., p. 308. 
What is that first instantaneous glimpse of some one's 
meaning which we have when In vulgar phrase we say we 
twig It? IT. Jaanet, Prin. of Psychology, I. 253. 
II. intrant. To understand ; see; "catch on." 
Don't you tieigf T. Hook, Gilbert Gurney, III. 11. 
"I fin;;," said Mick. Dinraeli, Sybil, v. 10. 
[Slang in all uses.] 
peraceous genus Cladium, this name as well as 
the genus name referring to the repeatedly 
branching cyme of the original species, C. 
Mariscus. This Is a tall perennial rush-like plant with 
long Blender leaves toothed on the edges and the keel, 
found in boga in most temperate and some tropical re- 
gions. It occurs in the western United States, and in the 
southern if the similar C. tfumm (see Hue-grass) be in- 
cluded in it C. marueoide* grows northward in North 
America. There are in all about 33 species. 
