English
twist
Twist comes from Middle English twist ‘the flat part of a hinge’, and goes back to Old English *twist.
- Old Englishc. 450–1150*twistreconstructed
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500twist‘the flat part of a hinge’
- Englishearliest quotation 1596same form
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Old Englishc. 450–1150*twistreconstructed
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500twist‘the flat part of a hinge’
- Englishearliest quotation 1596same form
Earliest quotation: 1596, Edmund Spenser, Book IV, Canto II: “the thrid / By griesly Lachesis was spun with…”
Every English word from Old English *twist
Today it means
noun A twisting force.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Old English *twist / twist