winkle out

== English == === Etymology === From winkle (“to extract”), from periwinkle (“a mollusk”). === Verb === winkle out (third-person singular simple present winkles out, present participle winkling out, simple past and past participle winkled out) (transitive, UK) To acquire with difficulty, as by thorough scrutiny. (transitive) To get (something or someone) out of an entrenched position.