English
vellicate
Verb

vellicate (vellicates, present participle vellicating; past and past participle vellicated)

  1. To touch (a body part) lightly so as to excite the surface nerves and cause uneasiness, laughter, or spasmodic movements.
    • 1954,Roald Dahl, The Way Up to Heaven
      It was nothing much - just a tiny vellicating muscle in the corner of the left eye […]
  2. to irritate as if by a nip, pinch, or tear.
    Smooth surfaces can vellicate the teeth.
  3. To pinch.
  4. To cause to twitch.
    • Convulsions, arising from something vellicating a nerve in its extremity, are not very dangerous.
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