Crank n. 1.(Mach.) A bent portion of an axle, or shaft, or an arm keyed at right angles to the end of a shaft, by which motion is imparted to or received from it; also used to change circular into reciprocating motion, or reciprocating into circular motion. See Bell crank. 2.Any bend, turn, or winding, as of a passage. "So many turning cranks these have, so many crooks."
3.A twist or turn in speech; a conceit consisting in a change of the form or meaning of a word. "Quips, and cranks, and wanton wiles."
4.A twist or turn of the mind; caprice; whim; crotchet; also, a fit of temper or passion. (Prov. Eng.) "Violent of temper; subject to sudden cranks."
5.A person full of crotchets; one given to fantastic or impracticable projects; one whose judgment is perverted in respect to a particular matter. (Colloq.)
6.A sick person; an invalid. (Obs.) "Thou art a counterfeit crank, a cheater."
Crank axle (Mach.), a driving axle formed with a crank or cranks, as in some kinds of locomotives.
Crank pin (Mach.), the cylindrical piece which forms the handle, or to which the connecting rod is attached, at the end of a crank, or between the arms of a double crank.
Crank shaft, a shaft bent into a crank, or having a crank fastened to it, by which it drives or is driven.
Crank wheel, a wheel acting as a crank, or having a wrist to which a connecting rod is attached.
Crank adj. 1.Sick; infirm. (Prov. Eng.)
2.(Naut.) Liable to careen or be overset, as a ship when she is too narrow, or has not sufficient ballast, or is loaded too high, to carry full sail.
3.Full of spirit; brisk; lively; sprightly; overconfident; opinionated. "He who was, a little before, bedrid,... was now crank and lusty." "If you strong electioners did not think you were among the elect, you would not be so crank about it."
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