Twink

Twink is a term used to describe a young, attractive gay man. It is typically associated with slim, fit and hairless bodies, as well as a youthful look. It is most often applied to men in their late teens or early twenties. A slim, but already hairy gay man would no longer be referred to as “Twink”, rather Otter or Naked Otter.

However, twinking can also refer to a specific type of gaming strategy. In the context of role-playing games like World of Warcraft, it involves using a high-level character to obtain superior loot and equipment, which is then provided to a lower level character that would otherwise be unable to get it on its own. This practice has become popular among gamers as it allows them to advance more quickly in the game.

Bears and twink

Though its exact origin is unclear, there are several theories about how the term “Twink” came about.

One of the most widely accepted theories is that the term originated from British slang in the 1970s, with “twank” meaning “a submissive homosexual prostitute”. Another theory suggests that it may be short for Twinkie, a small sponge cake dessert with a cream filling, which could have sexual references to a penis.

The term “Twink” has since been adopted by many other cultures, such as those in North America and Europe, and is now widely used across the LGBT community to refer to an attractive young man. While some might see it as derogatory, it is generally seen as an affectionate term among many members of the community.

Over the years, as “Twink” spread into dictionaries of the global LGBT community, several theories as to its origins have been concocted. A popular backronym for “Twink” is “teenaged, white, into no kink”.

With the spread of the internet, and with it online dating and adult entertainment (aka. Pr0n), “Twink” became a popular search word online, either as a category on adult entertainment sites, or as a preference in dating.

Simultaneously, “Twink” also began to be used in online multiplayer gaming, where players of World of Warcraft and other MMORPG titles began to apply the tactic of teaming with higher level players in order to acquire better loot.

Today, “Twink” can be encountered in a wide array of contexts, both with a sexual sense, as well as in gaming.

• Wikipedia – Twink (gay slang)
• PinkNews – What is a twink? The most hyper-sexualised gay ‘tribe’