▪ I. crimple, n.
[Cf. next, and crumple n.]
A crease, wrinkle, or fold; a crinkle. Now dial. and U.S.
| c 1440 Promp. Parv. 103 Crympylle or rympylle, ruga. 1844 Lowell (Mass.) Offering IV. 148 My paper is full, and I can only say ribbons, bows,..wimples, and crimples. 1862 C. C. Robinson Dial. Leeds 278 Where the breadth of muslin was narrow the ‘crimple’ was made by means of a penknife and the thumb. 1881 S. P. McLean Cape Cod Folks vi. 131 Teacher,..how shiny those crimples in your hair look, with that streak of sun lighting on 'em! |
▪ II. crimple, v.
Also 5–6 crymple.
[The early form crymple (if y is original) corresponds to Ger. dial. krümpeln to crumple; but crimple (with i) may be in its origin a dim. and iterative of crimp v.1; in later use crimple appears to be treated as a secondary form of crumple, expressing something finer and more attenuated; cf. sip, sup, drip, drop, etc.; also crinkle, crunkle. (See note to cramp n.1)]
† 1. intr. To be or become incurved, or drawn together; hence to stand or walk lame from this or similar cause. Cf. cripple. Obs.
| 1398 Trevisa Barth. De P.R. xviii. xxxix. (1495) 801 The token therof is that the hynder membres crymplyth togyders and ben constreyed. 1694 Lond. Gaz. No. 3007/4 Lost..a thick black Nag..stands crimpling on his near Leg behind. 1730–6 Bailey (folio), Crimpling, as to go crimpling, i.e. as if the feet were tender. |
2. intr. and trans. To wrinkle, crinkle, curl. Now dial.
| c 1440 Promp. Parv. 103 Crymplyn or rymplyn, rugo. 1600 F. Walker Sp. Mandeville 10 a, The hair was so curled, that it crimpled round like Ringes. 1676 Wiseman Surgery (J.), He passed the cautery through them, and accordingly crimpled them up. 1821 Clare Vill. Minstr. I. 138 While the flood's triumphing care Crimpled round its guarded home. 1881 Leicester Gloss., Crimple, to crumple, to wrinkle. |