Retwisting

Part of speech: verb, noun, adjective

Definitions

1. Winding or turning something into a twisted shape a second time after it has already been coiled once
2. Coiling or spiraling a material again so that it takes on a fresh twist after an earlier one
3. Giving a thread, wire, or strand another round of twist to reshape or tighten it once more

Etymology: "Retwisting" is simply the present participle and gerund of "retwist," so its history is that of its parts. The prefix "re-" comes from Latin, where it meant "again" or "back," and English has attached it freely to ordinary verbs for centuries. Attached to "twist," it gives the plain sense of twisting something once more, whether a loose thread, a strand of hair, or a bent piece of wire. "Twist" is an older English word, rooted in the idea of winding or wrenching threads together, which is why it has always been closely tied to spinning and rope-making. Combining it with "re-" produces a word whose meaning can be read straight off its two halves, with no shift in sense along the way.