Emily Dickinson Lexicon

CRINGE, v.t. [crinj; probably from the root of crank, crinkle, Heb. and Ch. כרע; or from the root of crook, with a nasal sound of the last consonant; G. kriechen; W. cryçu, to curl.]

Properly, to shrink; to contract; to draw together; a popular use of the word. [Vulgarly, scringe.] You see him cringe his face. – Shak.