Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Crank?

\Crank\ (kr?nk), n. [OE. cranke; akin to E. cringe, cringle, crinkle, and to crank, a., the root meaning, probably, ``to turn, twist.'' See {Cringe}.] 1. (Mach.) A bent portion of an axle, or shaft, or an arm keyed at right angles to the end of a shaft, by which motion is imparted to or received from it; also used to change circular into reciprocating motion, or reciprocating into circular motion. See {Bell crank}. 2. Any bend, turn, or winding, as of a passage. So many turning cranks these have, so many crooks. --Spenser. 3. A twist or turn in speech; a conceit consisting in a change of the form or meaning of a word. Quips, and cranks, and wanton wiles. --Milton. 4. A twist or turn of the mind; caprice; whim; crotchet; also, a fit of temper or passion. [Prov. Eng.] Violent of temper; subject to sudden cranks. --Carlyle. 5. A person full of crotchets; one given to fantastic or impracticable projects; one whose judgment is perverted in respect to a particular matter. [Colloq.] 6. A sick person; an invalid. [Obs.] Thou art a counterfeit crank, a cheater. --Burton. {Crank axle} (Mach.), a driving axle formed with a crank or cranks, as in some kinds of locomotives. {Crank pin} (Mach.), the cylindrical piece which forms the handle, or to which the connecting rod is attached, at the end of a crank, or between the arms of a double crank. {Crank shaft}, a shaft bent into a crank, or having a crank fastened to it, by which it drives or is driven. {Crank wheel}, a wheel acting as a crank, or having a wrist to which a connecting rod is attached.
\Crank\ (kr?nk), a. [AS. cranc weak; akin to Icel. krangr, D. & G. krank sick, weak (cf. D. krengen to careen). Cf. {Crank}, n.] 1. Sick; infirm. [Prov. Eng.] 2. (Naut.) Liable to careen or be overset, as a ship when she is too narrow, or has not sufficient ballast, or is loaded too high, to carry full sail. 3. Full of spirit; brisk; lively; sprightly; overconfident; opinionated. He who was, a little before, bedrid, . . . was now crank and lusty. --Udall. If you strong electioners did not think you were among the elect, you would not be so crank about it. --Mrs. Stowe.
\Crank\, v. i. [See {Crank}, n.] To run with a winding course; to double; to crook; to wind and turn. See how this river comes me cranking in. --Shak.