n.
Pronunciation: ' kra ŋ k
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English cranke, from Old English cranc- (as in crancstæf, a weaving instrument); probably akin to Middle High German krank weak, sick ― more at CRINGE
Date: 13th century
1 : a bent part of an axle or shaft or an arm keyed at right angles to the end of a shaft by which circular motion is imparted to or received from the shaft or by which reciprocating motion is changed into circular motion or vice versa
2 a archaic : BEND b : a twist or turn of speech : CONCEIT ― used especially in the phrase quips and cranks c (1) : CAPRICE , CROTCHET (2) : an annoyingly eccentric person also : one who is overly enthusiastic about a particular subject or activity d : a bad-tempered person : GROUCH
3 : CRYSTAL 7
– crank · ish \ ' kra ŋ -kish \ adjective