To winkle is to pry something out of a tight place, usually with a bit of patience. The word comes from the practice of extracting periwinkle snails from their shells, a delicate task that takes just the right touch. Over time, winkle has come to apply to anything coaxed loose with persistence rather than force.
Example: The mechanic used a small screwdriver to winkle the stuck pebble out of the tire.
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