"pinch, pluck, twist," usually to the nose, c.1600, probably from Middle English twikken "to draw, tug, pluck" (mid-15c.), from Old English twiccian "to pluck," of obscure origin; perhaps related to twitch. Meaning "to make fine adjustments" is attested from 1966. Related: Tweaked; tweaking.

c.1600, "a twitch, a pluck," from tweak, v.. As "a fine adjustment" by 1989.