Twitch

/twɪtʃ/ verb, noun

Definition

A sudden quick jerking movement of muscles, usually involuntary; to move with such sudden jerks.

Etymology

From Old English 'twiccian' meaning 'to pull or tug quickly.' It's an onomatopoetic word—the sound and meaning seem connected, as the word itself feels like a quick movement.

Kelly Says

A nervous twitch is your body's automatic alarm system firing—when you're anxious or tense, muscles contract involuntarily. Professional gamers use the term 'Twitch' for their livestreaming platform because gaming is all about fast reflexive twitches.

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.