Flinch
Flinch , intransitive verb
[Probably from Old English flecchen to waver, give way, French fléchir, from Latin flectere to bend; but prob. influenced by English blench. Compare Flex.]
1.
To withdraw from any suffering or undertaking, from pain or danger; to fail in doing or preserving; to show signs of yielding or of suffering; to shrink; to wince; as, one of the parties flinched from the combat.
A child, by a constant course of kindness, may be accustomed to bear very rough usage without flinching or complaining.
2.
(Croquet) To let the foot slip from a ball, when attempting to give a tight croquet.
Flinch , noun
The act of flinching.