Winkle

Winkle is a verb that means to obtain with great difficulty. Our word of the day began as an abbreviated version of the word periwinkle, whose origin is unclear. The word first appeared in English in the late 16th century and is generally used with an object. For example: I promised not to reveal my daughter’s birthday present, but after hours of fierce interrogation, she winkled the truth out of me. I’d never before seen her so determined to obtain something regardless of the difficulty involved.