[A humorous formation from CRANK sb.2 Chiefly occurring in the combination CRINKUM-CRANKUM q.v.]
† 1. = CRINKUM. Obs.
1661. K. W., Conf. Charac., Courtier (1860), 21. He gets the French cranckums, and so knows what it is to have a tenure in taile.
2. A twist, eccentric turn, crotchet, conceit.
1822. Galt, Sir A. Wylie, II. xxvii. 250. His contrariness is altogether of some misleart crancum about your caring nothing for him.
1825. R. P. Ward, Tremaine, III. xxi. 379. Woodington ’Squire is a noble fellow, with all his crankums.
1838. J. Struthers, Poetic Tales, 78. The cleft, the stave, the semitone, An’ fifths an’ thirds And ither crankums.
3. local. A large wooden trap used for catching pheasants or other game alive.
