▪ I. crankle, v.
(ˈkræŋk(ə)l)
Also 7 cranckle.
[Frequentative of crank v.1; in use from c 1600, but app. never very common. Cf. crinkle.]
1. intr. To bend in and out, to wind, twist; ‘to run in flexures and windings’ (J.); to run zig-zag.
| 1598 Florio, Serpicolato, turning, winding, crankling in and out like a serpent. 1611 Cotgr., Serpeger, to wind, or crankle in and out..to goe wauing etc. like a serpent. 1834 Sir H. Taylor Artevelde ii. iv. iv, The river crankles round an alder grove. 1835 M. Scott Cruise Midge xiv, The forked lightning crankled out every now and then clear and bright. 1851 S. Judd Margaret xvii. (1871) 149 Some went crankling and sheering, some described somersets. |
† 2. trans. To bend sinuously, to zig-zag; to crinkle (a surface). Hence ˈcrankled ppl. a.
| 1594 Nashe Unfort. Trav. 58 Writhings, and crankled wanderings. 1700 J. Brome Trav. Eng. iii. (1707) 297 Stones..somewhat roundish..streaked and crankled like a Cockleshell. 1708 J. Philips Cyder i. 14 Old Vaga's stream..her wonted Track Forsook, and drew her humid Train aslope, Crankling her Banks. |
▪ II. crankle, n.
(ˈkræŋk(ə)l)
[f. prec., or dim. of crank n.2]
A bend, twist, winding; a curve or angular prominence. See also crinkle-crankle.
| 1598 Florio, Tortuoso, crooked, winding, full of crinkles and crankles. 1755 Johnson, Crankles, inequalities; angular prominences. 1822 Lamb Elia, Old Actors, The accursed Verulam buildings had not encroached upon all the east side of them, cutting out delicate green crankles. 1845 Talfourd Vac. Rambles I. 128 It wound round one great crankle of the lake after another. 1881 W. Wilkins Songs of Study 209 Had the rack's rough crankles my joints untied. |
▪ III. crankle, a. dial.
[f. crank a.3 3.]
| 1847–78 Halliwell, Crankle, weak; shattered. North. |