Etymology From Middle English twinclen, twynclen, from Old English twinclian (“to twinkle”), equivalent to twink (“to wink; blink; twinkle”) + -le (frequentative suffix). Compare German zwinkern (“to wink; twinkle”).
1
Of a source of light To shine with a flickering light; to glimmer.
We could see the lights of the village twinkling in the distance.
These stars do not twinkle when viewed through telescopes that have large apertures.1704, I[saac] N[ewton], “(please specify |book=1 to 3)”, in Opticks: Or, A Treatise of the Reflexions, Refractions, Inflexions and Colours of Light. […], London: […] Sam[uel] Smith, and Benj[amin] Walford, printers to the Royal Society, […], →OCLC:
2 more examples
The western sky twinkled with stars.1814 July 7, [Walter Scott], Waverley; or, ’Tis Sixty Years Since. […], volume (please specify |volume=I to III), Edinburgh: […] James Ballantyne and Co. for Archibald Constable and Co.; London: Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, and Brown, →OCLC:
As the train rumbled slowly over the Forth Bridge, the western sky was aflame with a particularly gorgeous sunset, and lights were twinkling from the small craft riding at anchor on the calm waters of the firth.1950 January, Arthur F. Beckenham, “With British Railways to the Far North”, in Railway Magazine, page 8:
2
Of eyes To be bright with delight.
His shrewd little eyes twinkled roguishly.
3
To bat, blink or wink the eyes.
She smiled and gave a little nod and twinkled her eyes[…]1922, Mrs. Juliet M. Hueffer Soskice, Chapters from Childhood: Reminiscences of an Artist's Granddaughter, page 165:
The Owl Fell a Moping and Twinkling.1692, Roger L’Estrange, “ (please specify the fable number.) (please specify the name of the fable.)”, in Fables, of Æsop and Other Eminent Mythologists: […], London: […] R[ichard] Sare, […], →OCLC:
4
To flit to and fro.
A butterfly twinkled among the vines[…]1988, Dorothy Gilman, Mrs. Pollifax and the Golden Triangle, page 190:
Etymology From Middle English twinclen, twynclen, from Old English twinclian (“to twinkle”), equivalent to twink (“to wink; blink; twinkle”) + -le (frequentative suffix). Compare German zwinkern (“to wink; twinkle”).
1
A sparkle or glimmer of light.
Soon the rocket was out of sight, and the flame was only seen as a tiny twinkle of light.1980, Robert De Beaugrande, Text, Discourse, and Process:
2
A sparkle of delight in the eyes.
He was a rotund, jolly man with a twinkle in his eye.
One of thoſe archers cloſely I did ſpy, / ayming his arrovv at my very hart: / vvhen ſuddenly vvith tvvincle of her eye, / the Damzell broke his miſintended dart.1595, Edmunde Spenser [i.e., Edmund Spenser], “[Amoretti.] Sonnet XVI”, in Amoretti and Epithalamion. […], London: […] [Peter Short] for William Ponsonby, →OCLC, signature B, verso:
3
A flitting movement.
I saw the twinkle of white feet,1848, James Russell Lowell, Hebe: