Whence the divergence of these two words (which both claim roots from OE "hwinsian")?

Interesting post Ghost. Welcome to the Board.
I thought whine was a sort of high pitched tone of voice that grates on one's nerves where someone goes on and on about something -- children are very good at it!
And whinge brought an image of someone flinching from doing something.
I hear whine in US and never hear whinge, but do see the word in Brit-locale books.

so now I know better ... or ??