Squinches

"squinches" or "trompettes", and then raising the dome on the octagon, by filling in the obtuse angles of the figure with rudimentary pendentives or faced corbelling. ❋ 1840-1916 (1913)

She squinches her eyes shut and holds him, takes in the scent of him, feels the warmth of his chest on her cheek. ❋ LISA McMANN (2010)

He doesn't look threatening — just kind of lounging against the side of his car, smoking a cigarette, wearing those reflective sunglasses that you hate because you can see yourself when you talk to the person wearing them and it disarms you, the way your face squinches up and you look so fake, like you're trying too hard. ❋ Unknown (2009)

Hmm - I love oysters and blue cheese Stilton rocks my world but somehow my nose still squinches up at the thought of eating scrapple. ❋ Anne Johnson (2009)

Add 4 heaping Tablespoons of Sweet Pickle Relish, some big squinches of Salt and Pepper, 1 Teaspoon Paprika. ❋ Eddie Gehman Kohan (2008)

No squinches at Pecos, but a number of other peculiarities that the concept will help explain. ❋ Walter Jon Williams (2008)

On the squinches are dark, intimidating mosaics of vast six-winged beings— cherubim, in other words. ❋ Walter Jon Williams (2006)

Supporting the dome, between the half-domes and the arches, are the triangular load-bearing “squinches.” ❋ Walter Jon Williams (2006)

He squinches his eyes as tight as he can, concentrates on making a joyful noise, of navigating by those notes, of hearing them bounce back to him. ❋ JODI PICOULT (2002)

He scratches his head and squinches his Iowa farm boy face as he thinks about the proposition. ❋ Partygirl (2000)

Denver waves her arms and squinches her eyes to separate the shadows of potato sacks, a lard can and a side of smoked pork from the one that might be human. ❋ Morrison, Toni (1987)