Verb

(es)

(followed by a preposition) To advance very slowly, or by a small amount (in a particular direction).

Fearful of falling, he inched along the window ledge.

* 1957 , :

*:The window blind had been lowered — Zooey had done all his bathtub reading by the light from the three-bulb overhead fixture—but a fraction of morning light inched under the blind and onto the title page of the manuscript.

* {{quote-news

, year=2012 , date=May 9 , author=John Percy , title=Birmingham City 2 Blackpool 2 (2-3 on agg): match report , work=the Telegraph citation , page= , passage=Already guarding a 1-0 lead from the first leg, Blackpool inched further ahead when Stephen Dobbie scored from an acute angle on the stroke of half-time. The game appeared to be completely beyond Birmingham’s reach three minutes into the second period when Matt Phillips reacted quickly to bundle the ball past Colin Doyle and off a post.}}

To drive by inches, or small degrees.

* Dryden

He gets too far into the soldier's grace / And inches out my master.

To deal out by inches; to give sparingly.