n. & v.
n. 1 part of an axle or shaft bent at right angles for interconverting reciprocal and circular motion. 2 an elbow-shaped connection in bell-hanging.
v.tr. 1 cause to move by means of a crank. 2 a bend into a crank-shape. b furnish or fasten with a crank. crank up 1 start (a car engine) by turning a crank. 2 sl. increase (speed etc.) by intensive effort.
[ OE cranc, app. f. crincan, rel. to cringan fall in battle, orig. 'curl up' ]