Flinch

Part of speech: noun (n.)

The act of flinching.

Part of speech: verb (v.)

1. To withdraw from any suffering or undertaking, from pain or danger; to fail in doing or perserving; 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. Locke.

2. To let the foot slip from a ball, when attempting to give a tight croquet.