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.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.