The British wankel may be related to the American winkle, which means to get something out of a sticky place with delicate maneuvres. (sp)

For example: "Would you please winkle the sewing-machine plug out of the grate in the hot-air register?"

I don't know if winkle is in the dictionary yet, or if it should be spelled winkle or winkel.

The link is that we wankle something with words but we winkle something with a tool.