Naut. [Of obscure origin, appearing first in the comb. CRANK-SIDED, q.v. The early explanations suggest association with the Du. and Fris. krengd (of a ship) laid or lying over on its side, pa. pple. of krengen, orig. to apply pressure to, push over, spec. to lay or cause (a ship) to fall upon her side, e.g., in careening, also intr. to incline or lie on one side, as a ship does when her cargo shifts in the hold. See Dale, and Doornkaat Koolman Ostfries. Wbch. Possibly this foreign word was caught up, and confused with the native crank.]
Liable to lean over or capsize: said of a ship when she is built too deep or narrow, or has not sufficient ballast to carry full sail. Crank by the ground (see quots. 1696, 1704).
1696. Phillips, s.v. Crank, A ship is said to be crank by the Ground when she is narrow-floor’d [1706 adds] so … that she cannot be brought on Ground, without danger of being overthrown, or at least of wringing her Sides.
1702. J. Logan, in Pa. Hist. Soc. Mem., IX. 82. Through a jealousy of the vessel being crank.
1704. J. Harris, Lex. Techn., Crank, the Sea Term for a Ship that cannot bear her Sails, or can bear but a small Sail for fear of oversetting: and they say she is Crank by the Ground, when she cannot be brought on Ground without danger of overthrowing her.
1770. Chron., in Ann. Reg., 67/2. At present she is so cranke she cannot carry sail.
1850. Longf., Building of Ship, 29. Strangest of all, Towered the Great Harry, crank and tall.
1873. Black, Pr. Thule, xxiii. 380. That crank little boat with its top-heavy sails.
fig. 1751. Smollett, Per. Pic., ii. (D.). I have heard as how you came by your lame foot by having your upper decks overstowed with liquor, whereby you became crank, and rolled, d’ye see.
1808. Moore, Corruption, ii. Things, which … Still serve to ballast, with convenient words, A few crank arguments for speeching lords.
