Twin"kle (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Twinkled (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Twinkling (?).] [OE. twinklen, AS. twinclian; akin to OE. twinken to blink, wink, G. zwinken, zwinkern, and perhaps to E. twitch.]
1.
To open and shut the eye rapidly; to blink; to wink.
The owl fell a moping and twinkling.
L' Estrange.
2.
To shine with an intermitted or a broken, quavering light; to flash at intervals; to sparkle; to scintillate.
These stars not twinkle when viewed through telescopes that have large apertures.
Sir I. Newton.
The western sky twinkled with stars.
Sir W. Scott.
© Webster 1913.
Twin"kle (?), n.
1.
A closing or opening, or a quick motion, of the eye; a wink or sparkle of the eye.
Suddenly, with twinkle of her eye,
The damsel broke his misintended dart.
Spenser.
2.
A brief flash or gleam, esp. when rapidly repeated.
3.
The time of a wink; a twinkling.
Dryden.
© Webster 1913.