I. ˈkraŋ-kē adjective
( crank·i·er ; -est )
Etymology: crank (I)
Date: 1821
1.
a. : given to fretful fussiness : readily angered when opposed : crotchety
our long wait…left us a tad cranky — Connecticut
b. : marked by eccentricity
his bizarre and cranky mix of ideas and beliefs — R. J. Evans
2. : full of twists and turns : tortuous
a cranky road
3. : working erratically : unpredictable
a cranky old tractor
4. dialect : crazy , imbecile
• crank·i·ly -kə-lē adverb
• crank·i·ness -kē-nəs noun
II. adjective
Date: 1841
of a boat : crank V