Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Pinch?

\Pinch\, v. t. To seize by way of theft; to steal; also, to catch; to arrest. [Slang] --Robert Barr.
\Pinch\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Pinched}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Pinching}.] [F. pincer, probably fr. OD. pitsen to pinch; akin to G. pfetzen to cut, pinch; perhaps of Celtic origin. Cf. {Piece}.] 1. To press hard or squeeze between the ends of the fingers, between teeth or claws, or between the jaws of an instrument; to squeeze or compress, as between any two hard bodies. 2. o seize; to grip; to bite; -- said of animals. [Obs.] He [the hound] pinched and pulled her down. --Chapman. 3. To plait. [Obs.] Full seemly her wimple ipinched was. --Chaucer. 4. Figuratively: To cramp; to straiten; to oppress; to starve; to distress; as, to be pinched for money. Want of room . . . pinching a whole nation. --Sir W. Raleigh. 5. To move, as a railroad car, by prying the wheels with a pinch. See {Pinch}, n., 4.
\Pinch\, v. i. 1. To act with pressing force; to compress; to squeeze; as, the shoe pinches. 2. (Hunt.) To take hold; to grip, as a dog does. [Obs.] 3. To spare; to be niggardly; to be covetous. --Gower. The wretch whom avarice bids to pinch and spare. --Franklin. {To pinch at}, to find fault with; to take exception to. [Obs.] --Chaucer.
\Pinch\, n. 1. A close compression, as with the ends of the fingers, or with an instrument; a nip. 2. As much as may be taken between the finger and thumb; any very small quantity; as, a pinch of snuff. 3. Pian; pang. ``Necessary's sharp pinch.'' --Shak. 4. A lever having a projection at one end, acting as a fulcrum, -- used chiefly to roll heavy wheels, etc. Called also {pinch bar}. {At a pinch}, {On a pinch}, in an emergency; as, he could on a pinch read a little Latin.