creathnaigh — meaning in English

English meaning

• cower verb To crouch down or shrink back in fear.
• flinch verb To make a sudden, involuntary movement away from something painful, frightening, or unpleasant.
• quail noun A small, plump game bird related to pheasants and partridges.
• tremble verb To shake with quick, small movements, often from cold, fear, weakness, or strong emotion.

Senses

creathnaigh is used for these senses in English:

• flinch (intransitive) To make a sudden, involuntary movement in response to a (usually negative) stimulus; to cringe; to blench.
• quail (intransitive) To lose heart or courage; to be daunted or fearful. [from 16th c.]

flinch — full definition

1. verb To make a sudden, involuntary movement away from something painful, frightening, or unpleasant.
2. verb To hesitate or avoid facing something difficult.
3. noun A sudden involuntary jerk away from something.

Related Irish words