Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun A structure, such as a section of vaulting or corbeling, set diagonally across the interior angle between two walls to provide a transition from a square to a polygonal or more nearly circular base on which to construct a dome.
  • transitive verb To squeeze, twist, or draw together.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun In architecture, a small arch, or a series of arches, corbeled out, thrown across an angle, as in a square tower to support the side of a superimposed octagon.
  • noun A dialectal variant of quince.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun (Arch.) A small arch thrown across the corner of a square room to support a superimposed mass, as where an octagonal spire or drum rests upon a square tower; -- called also sconce, and sconcheon.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun architecture A structure constructed between two adjacent walls to aid in the transition from a polygonal to a circular structure; as when a dome is constructed on top of a square room.
  • verb to scrunch up (one's face)

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • verb crouch down
  • verb cross one's eyes as if in strabismus
  • noun a small arch built across the interior angle of two walls (usually to support a spire)
  • verb draw back, as with fear or pain

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Alteration of scuncheon, from Middle English sconchon, from Old French escoinson : es-, out of (from Latin ex-; see ex–) + coin, angle, wedge; see coin.]

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Alteration of squint.]

Support

Help support Wordnik (and make this page ad-free) by adopting the word squinch.

Examples

  • Now ef you years me toot twice lak a squinch-owl, you knows dat you got ter go en tell Miss Lou dat

    Miss Lou Edward Payson Roe 1863

  • "Now, Miss Lou," whispered Chunk, "I gwine ter wake Marse Scoville up by tootin 'lak a squinch-owl," and he did so briefly.

    Miss Lou Edward Payson Roe 1863

  • He larn ter toot lak a squinch-owl frum Marse Scoville en he tole me dat when he come agin he toot.

    Miss Lou Edward Payson Roe 1863

  • Marse Scoville didn't come back fum dat las 'fight, he say, en he say ter me dat ef he toot twiced lak a squinch-owl dat mean I go ter you, fer he need yo' he'p.

    Miss Lou Edward Payson Roe 1863

  • Crews, a sports psychologist who studies putting, has found that a key difference between amateurs and pros lies in the left hemisphere, the seat of logic, analysis, verbal reasoning and the kinds of thoughts -- Maybe I should just kind of squinch over a little more to the left -- that you never imagine crossing Tiger Woods's mind.

    Periscope 2007

  • You tootin 'lak a squinch-owl en kin kep comp'ny wid squinch-owls. "

    Miss Lou Edward Payson Roe 1863

  • I've got a round yellow face and when I laugh my eyes squinch up like little apostrophes.

    Turnstyle: Talking Sh*t about Sh*t My Students Write Turnstyle 2011

  • Well, you have to squinch your eyes up to see them from 289, but it's two guys who are tied at 197 and no doubt will be in physical contact with each other Sunday night: Redskins linebacker London Fletcher and Colts quarterback Peyton Manning.

    If Brett Favre sits, London Fletcher and Peyton Manning will be Ironmen Cindy Boren 2010

  • I've got a round yellow face and when I laugh my eyes squinch up like little apostrophes.

    Turnstyle: Talking Sh*t about Sh*t My Students Write Turnstyle 2011

  • He looked at me without speaking, for what seemed like forever, then at a chair, which soon started rolling slowly towards me while Pete continued to stare at it, straining so hard it made creases like the Grand Canyon in his forehead and squinch wrinkles around his eyes.

    Jay's Journal Dr. Beatrice Sparks 2010

Comments

Log in or sign up to get involved in the conversation. It's quick and easy.

  • A small arch, corbeling, or the like, built across the interior angle between two walls, as in a square tower for supporting the side of a superimposed octagonal spire.

    January 3, 2008