- F. pincer, probably fr. OD. pitsen to pinch; akin to G. pfetzen to cut, pinch; perhaps of Celtic origin. Cf. Piece
- To press hard or squeeze between the ends of the fingers, between teeth or claws, or between the jaws of an instrument; to squeeze or compress, as between any two hard bodies.
- to seize; to grip; to bite; -- said of animals.ObsHe [the houndpinched and pulled her down.
- To plait.ObsFull seemly her wimple ipinched was.
- Figuratively: To cramp; to straiten; to oppress; to starve; to distress; as, to be pinched for money.Want of room . . . pinching a whole nation.
- To move, as a railroad car, by prying the wheels with a pinch. See Pinchn., 4.
- To seize by way of theft; to steal; to lift.Slang
- to catch; to arrest (a criminal).
