\Pinch\, v. t.
To seize by way of theft; to steal; also, to catch; to
arrest. [Slang] --Robert Barr.

\Pinch\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Pinched}; p. pr. & vb. n.
{Pinching}.] [F. pincer, probably fr. OD. pitsen to pinch;
akin to G. pfetzen to cut, pinch; perhaps of Celtic origin.
Cf. {Piece}.]
1. To press hard or squeeze between the ends of the fingers,
   between teeth or claws, or between the jaws of an
   instrument; to squeeze or compress, as between any two
   hard bodies.
2. o seize; to grip; to bite; -- said of animals. [Obs.]
         He [the hound] pinched and pulled her down.
                                               --Chapman.
3. To plait. [Obs.]
         Full seemly her wimple ipinched was.  --Chaucer.
4. Figuratively: To cramp; to straiten; to oppress; to
   starve; to distress; as, to be pinched for money.
         Want of room . . . pinching a whole nation. --Sir W.
                                               Raleigh.
5. To move, as a railroad car, by prying the wheels with a
   pinch. See {Pinch}, n., 4.

\Pinch\, v. i.
1. To act with pressing force; to compress; to squeeze; as,
   the shoe pinches.
2. (Hunt.) To take hold; to grip, as a dog does. [Obs.]
3. To spare; to be niggardly; to be covetous. --Gower.
         The wretch whom avarice bids to pinch and spare.
                                               --Franklin.
{To pinch at}, to find fault with; to take exception to.
   [Obs.] --Chaucer.

\Pinch\, n.
1. A close compression, as with the ends of the fingers, or
   with an instrument; a nip.
2. As much as may be taken between the finger and thumb; any
   very small quantity; as, a pinch of snuff.
3. Pian; pang. ``Necessary's sharp pinch.'' --Shak.
4. A lever having a projection at one end, acting as a
   fulcrum, -- used chiefly to roll heavy wheels, etc. Called
   also {pinch bar}.
{At a pinch}, {On a pinch}, in an emergency; as, he could on
   a pinch read a little Latin.