Emily Dickinson Lexicon

TWINGE, v.t. [twinj; Sw. tvinga, D. dwingen, Dan. tvinger, G. zwingen, to constrain; but the sense is primarily to twitch. See Twang, Tweak, Twitch.]

1. To affect with a sharp sudden pain; to torment with pinching or sharp pains. The gnat twinged the lion till he made him tear himself, and so he mastered him. L'Estrange.
2. To pinch; to tweak; to pull with a jerk; as, to twinge one by the ears and nose. Hudibras.