cramp 1
/kramp/ , n.
1. Often, cramps .
a. a sudden, involuntary, spasmodic contraction of a muscle or group of muscles, esp. of the extremities, sometimes with severe pain.
b. a piercing pain in the abdomen.
c. an intermittent, painful contraction of structures of a wall containing involuntary muscle, as in biliary colic or in the uterine contractions of menstruation or of labor.
2. See writer's cramp .
v.t.
3. to affect with or as if with a cramp.
[ 1325-75; ME crampe crampe, OS krampo, OHG krampfo; deriv. of adj. meaning narrow, constrained, bent; cf. OHG krampf, ON krappr; akin to CRIMP ]
cramp 2
— crampingly , adv.
/kramp/ , n.
1. See cramp iron .
2. a portable frame or tool with a movable part that can be screwed up to hold things together; clamp.
3. anything that confines or restrains.
4. a cramped state or part.
v.t.
5. to fasten or hold with a cramp.
6. to confine narrowly; restrict; restrain; hamper.
7. to turn (the front wheels of a motor vehicle) by means of the steering gear; steer.
8. cramp one's style , Informal. to prevent one from showing one's best abilities.
adj.
9. cramped 2 .
[ 1375-1425; late ME crampe 1 ]