Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Crimp?

\Crimp\ (kr[i^]mp), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Crimped} (kr[i^]mt; 215); p. pr. & vb. n. {Crimping}.] [Akin to D. krimpen to shrink, shrivel, Sw. krympa, Dan. krympe, and to E. cramp. See {Cramp}.] 1. To fold or plait in regular undulation in such a way that the material will retain the shape intended; to give a wavy appearance to; as, to crimp the border of a cap; to crimp a ruffle. Cf. {Crisp}. The comely hostess in a crimped cap. --W. Irving. 2. To pinch and hold; to seize. 3. Hence, to entrap into the military or naval service; as, to crimp seamen. Coaxing and courting with intent to crimp him. --Carlyle. 4. (Cookery) To cause to contract, or to render more crisp, as the flesh of a fish, by gashing it, when living, with a knife; as, to crimp skate, etc. {Crimping house}, a low lodging house, into which men are decoyed and plied with drink, to induce them to ship or enlist as sailors or soldiers. {Crimping iron}. (a) An iron instrument for crimping and curling the hair. (b) A crimping machine. {Crimping machine}, a machine with fluted rollers or with dies, for crimping ruffles leather, iron, etc. {Crimping pin}, an instrument for crimping or puckering the border of a lady's cap.
\Crimp\, a. 1. Easily crumbled; friable; brittle. [R.] Now the fowler . . . treads the crimp earth. --J. Philips. 2. Weak; inconsistent; contradictory. [R.] The evidance is crimp; the witnesses swear backward and forward, and contradict themselves. --Arbuthnot.
\Crimp\, n. 1. A coal broker. [Prov. Eng.] --De Foe. 2. One who decoys or entraps men into the military or naval service. -- Marryat. 3. A keeper of a low lodging house where sailors and emigrants are entrapped and fleeced. 4. Hair which has been crimped; -- usually in pl. 5. A game at cards. [Obs.] --B. Jonson. {Boot crimp}. See under {Boot}.
\Crimp\, v. t. (Firearms) In cartridge making, to fold the edge of (a cartridge case) inward so as to close the mouth partly and confine the charge.