a. Naut. [See CRANK a.2, which appears first in this comb.] = CRANK a.2
1626. Capt. Smith, Accid. Yng. Sea-men, 13. A ship cranke sided.
a. 1649. Winthrop, New Eng. (1853), II. 337. The ship … was very crank-sided, so it was conceived she was overset in a great tempest.
1658–1706. in Phillips.
1711. Milit. & Sea Dict., s.v. Crank, A Ship is said to be crank-sided when she will bear but small Sail, and lie down very much with little Wind.
1884. T. Walden, in Harper’s Mag., Aug., 422/2. The ship of state at that time [c. 1100] was a crank-sided concern.
