What does winkled mean?
Winkled is an uncommon English word, especially in British usage, meaning that something has small lines, folds, or creases in its surface. It is most often used as an adjective, as in “a winkled face” or “a winkled brow,” and conveys the presence of wrinkles with a slightly more descriptive or literary tone than the much more common word wrinkled. The pronunciation is WIN-kuld, with stress on the first syllable. Winkled can also function as the past tense and past participle of the verb winkle, meaning to wrinkle, crease, or pucker; in this form it is familiar chiefly from older or more literary writing rather than everyday conversation. The word is useful when an author wants to emphasize fine folds and creases rather than merely state that a surface is wrinkled. Although understandable in both British and American English, it is especially associated with British vocabulary and may sound unusual to many North American speakers, for whom “wrinkled” is the standard everyday alternative.
Having wrinkles, creases, or folds in the surface.
"He rubbed his winkled forehead and tried to remember the name."
Chiefly British in modern usage and somewhat literary; wrinkled is far more common in general English.
To wrinkle, crease, or pucker something or become wrinkled.
"The cloth winkled as the hot water reached it."
This is the past tense and past participle of winkle and is more characteristic of literary or older usage.
Winkled sounds like a tiny wink, but its surprise is the opposite: it points out every crease and fold.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does winkled come from?
Winkled is formed from winkle with the ending -ed, which can mark an adjective meaning “having wrinkles” or a past-tense and past-participle verb form. Winkle belongs to the same English word family as wrinkle and is commonly traced to Middle English winkel, with the related Old English wrincle denoting a fold or wrinkle. The ultimate origin of that Old English term is uncertain, so a more precise Indo-European source should not be assumed.
Related word forms
How winkled is actually used
The word is uncommon and somewhat literary; in everyday American English, wrinkled is normally preferred. It is more frequently encountered in British writing.
Easily confused with winkled
Winkled means wrinkled or creased, whereas winked is the past tense of wink and refers to closing and opening one eye.