1. tense up the muscles of (one's eyes or face): North American"Gina squinched her face up"
▪ (of a person's eyes) narrow so as to be almost closed, typically in reaction to strong light: North American"he flicked on the light, which made my eyes squinch up"
▪ crouch down in order to make oneself seem smaller or to occupy less space:North American"I squinched down under the sheet"
Word Originearly 19th century: perhaps a blend of the verbs squeeze and pinch.