twink

¹

[ twingk ]

verb (used with or without object)

1. wink ¹.
2. twinkle.

twink

²

[ twingk ]

noun

, Slang.

1. a young, attractive gay man with a slim, boyish appearance.
2. (in a role-playing game) a low-level character who is equipped with advanced-level armor and weapons obtained from a high-level character, as a gift or through real money trade:

   Check out the overpowered gear on the twink who just joined our group.

twink

/ twɪŋk /

noun

1. white correction fluid for deleting written text

Word History and Origins

Origin of twink¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English twinken; cognate with German zwinken “to wink”; akin to twinkle

Origin of twink²

First recorded in 1960–65; shortening of twinkie “a gay or effeminate man; a younger male regarded as an object of gay male desire”; commonly associated with Twinkie, a trademark for a kind of small, oblong cake with a creamy filling

Example Sentences

In Malibu, George spends a week with his friends Madeline, a movie star; her husband, Walt, who is gay; Jacques, who is George’s latest twink amusement; and George’s writing partner and secret crush, Jack.

From Los Angeles Times

Vulgar and savagely homosexual: It’s familiar material for Escola, a gadfly comedian and actor best known for their impish drag portrayals and for playing Matthew, a nelly twink shrew on the Hulu series “Difficult People.”

From New York Times

And, when blocking a scene, Mac told a performer who had been called a twink, “Welcome to 35, you’re now a ’twas.”

From New York Times

They included individuals from diverse walks of life: an 81-year-old Navy veteran in a red scooter, a chemistry teacher, a greeting-card business owner who derives 95 percent of her income from TikTok sales; a disability rights advocate, two chefs and a 19-year-old who yelled “twink” in the Capitol Rotunda.

From Washington Post

“Becoming the first person to say twink in the capitol rotunda,” reads the on-screen caption as Mr. Kohn-Murphy shouts the word into the cavernous dome above.

From New York Times