[A group of senses connected with CRANK sb.1 and 2 and CRANKY a.]
1. ‘Crooked, distorted’ (Jam.); angularly twisted or bent. Sc.
1825–79. in Jamieson, who cites ‘crank-handed, a crank hand,’ from Aberdeen, Mearns.
1892. J. Mather, Poems, 252. There stood the old oak tree…. No wonder he is crank and grim.
† 2. In fig. sense of ‘twisted, angular’; crabbed, awkward or difficult to pronounce, understand or execute. Obs. or Sc.
1729. Swift, Direct. Birth-day Song. A skilful critic justly blames Hard, tough, crank, gutt’ral, harsh, stiff names.
1790. Shirrefs, Poems, Gloss., A crank job, a work attended with difficulty, or requiring ingenuity in the execution.
1825–79. Jamieson, Crank … 2. Hard, difficult; as, ‘a crank word,’ a word hard to be understood.
3. Infirm, weak, shaky in health; = CRANKY 1. dial. [Cf. Du. and Ger. krank.]
1802. R. Sibbald, Chron. Sc. Poetry Gloss., Crank, infirm, weak, in bad condition.
1881. Leicester Gloss., Crank, sick, ailing.
4. Of machinery: In a loose, shaky or crazy condition; out of order, working with difficulty; = CRANKY 3.
1831. Carlyle, Sart. Res., I. iii. The machinery of laughter took some time to get in motion, and seemed crank and slack. Ibid. (1837), Fr. Rev., III. II. i. This Convention is unfortunately the crankest of machines.
1876. Times, 11 Nov., 9/2. The crank machinery of the double government would … enfeeble every effort of the State.
