ˈcrankum
[A humorous formation from crank n.2 Chiefly occurring in the combination crinkum-crankum q.v.]
† 1. = crinkum. Obs.
| 1661 K. W. Conf. Charac., Courtier (1860) 21 He gets the French cranckums, and so knows what it is to have a tenure in taile. |
2. A twist, eccentric turn, crotchet, conceit.
| 1822 Galt Sir A. Wylie II. xxvii. 250 His contrariness is altogether of some misleart crancum about your caring nothing for him. 1825 R. Ward Tremaine III. xxi. 379 Woodington 'Squire is a noble fellow, with all his crankums. 1838 J. Struthers Poetic Tales 78 The cleft, the stave, the semitone, An' fifths an' thirds And ither crankums. |
3. local. A large wooden trap used for catching pheasants or other game alive.