twig, v.¹ — Green’s Dictionary of Slang

twig v.¹

[? SE tweak or twitch]

1. of a man, to have sexual intercourse [SE twig, to do something vigorously].

c.1591

‘Second Libel of Oxford’ in May & Bryson Verse Libel 374: But sure the old boare he hath twigg’d / A sow or two.

2. to disengage, to break off.

1725		New Canting Dict. n.p.: To Twig, to disingage, to sunder, to snap, to break off.
1737, 1759, 1760, 1776		Bailey Universal Etym. Eng. Dict. [as cit. 1725].
c.1750–1882		B.M. Carew Life and Adventures.
1785, 1788, 1796		Grose Classical Dict. of the Vulgar Tongue n.p.: Twig, [...] to disengage, snap asunder, or break off. To twig the darbies; to knock off the irons.
1811		Lex. Balatronicum [as cit. 1785].
1890–1904		Farmer & Henley Sl. and Its Analogues.

3. (UK Und.) to hit.

1833

H. Smith Gale Middleton 1 158: Damn the leary cove! the wind isn’t out of him yet. Twig him another crack, Jem!

In phrases

twig the darbies (v.)

(UK Und.) to knock off the handcuffs or irons.

1725		New Cant. Dict. n.p.: To twig the Darbies, to knock off the Irons.
1785, 1788, 1796		Grose Classical Dict. of the Vulgar Tongue n.p.: Twig, [...] to disengage, snap asunder, or break off. To twig the darbies; to knock off the irons.
a.1790		H.T. Potter New Dict. Cant (1795) n.p.: to twigg the darbies to knock off the irons.
1811		Lex. Balatronicum [as cit. 1785].

twig the heel (v.)

(US) to seduce.

1842

Wkly Rake (NY) 18 June n.p.: the rake advises [...] The man who says he will ‘twig the heel’ of a respectable and pretty girl in Cannon street to beware of a cowhiding from A.H .

twig v.1

In phrases

twig v.¹