twig

¹

[ twig ]

noun

1. a slender shoot of a tree or other plant.
2. a small offshoot from a branch or stem.
3. a small, dry, woody piece fallen from a branch:

   a fire of twigs.

4. Anatomy. one of the minute branches of a blood vessel or nerve.

twig

²

[ twig ]

verb (used with object)

, twigged, twig·ging.

1. to look at; observe:

   Now, twig the man climbing there, will you?

2. to see; perceive:

   Do you twig the difference in colors?

3. to understand.

verb (used without object)

, twigged, twig·ging.

1. to understand.

twig

³

[ twig ]

noun

, British Archaic.

1. style; fashion.

twig

¹

/ twɪɡ /

verb

1. to understand (something)
2. to find out or suddenly comprehend (something)

   he hasn't twigged yet

3. rare.
   tr to perceive (something)

twig

²

/ twɪɡ /

noun

1. any small branch or shoot of a tree or other woody plant
2. something resembling this, esp a minute branch of a blood vessel

Derived Forms

• ˈtwigˌlike, adjective

Other Words From

• twigless adjective
• twiglike adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of twig¹

First recorded before 950; Middle English twig, twig(g)e; Old English twig, twigge, twī originally “(something) divided in two”; akin to Old High German zwīg ( German Zweig ), Dutch twijg; compare Sanskrit dvikás “double”; twi- ( def )

Origin of twig²

First recorded in 1760–70; of uncertain origin; perhaps from Irish tuigim “I understand”

Origin of twig³

First recorded in 1805–15; origin uncertain

Word History and Origins

Origin of twig¹

C18: perhaps from Gaelic tuig I understand

Origin of twig²

Old English twigge ; related to Old Norse dvika consisting of two, Old High German zwīg twig, Old Danish tvige fork

Example Sentences

Tanton kindles a small fire of twigs inside a metal pitcher, while expounding for the camera about ecology and overpopulation.

From Salon

The actor’s physique is one easily mistaken for the kind a ruthless heavy could break like a twig or silence by barking some reminder to know her place.

From Salon

Two years on, his mum Ruth contacted the National Trust after hearing about the seedlings and grafts successfully grown from seeds and young twigs rescued from the felled tree.

From BBC

"I hadn't really twigged that he was looking for a bit more earthiness and a bit more bite."

From BBC

For all we know, Eric’s payback may be as much about that horse as Shelly, a thinly realized character who will ultimately neither help nor harm twigs’ brand as an entrancing art polymath.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• limb
• sprig