[f. CRIMP v.1]
1. The action of CRIMP v.1; the product of this action; a succession of small folds, frills or flutings.
1755. Songs Costume (Percy Soc.), 237. Ornament it well with gimping, Flounces, furbelows, and crimping.
1853. Kane, Grinnell Exp., xlii. (1856), 386. Presently … you see a slight crimping, followed by a dotted … appearance on the ice.
1865. Lubbock, Preh. Times, iv. (1878), 104. The crimping along the edges of the handle is very curious.
1870. Spectator, 13 Aug., 976. The beautiful conchoidal waves, crimpings, and ripple-work displayed on the surface of tools and weapons in Scandinavia.
2. The causing of muscular contraction in fishes by dividing or gashing their flesh.
1698. [see CRIMP v.1 4].
1776. Hunter, in Phil. Trans., LXVI. 415, note. Cutting fish into pieces while yet alive, in order to make them hard, usually known by the name of crimping.
1805. A. Carlisle, Ibid. XCV. 23. Many transverse sections of the muscles being made, and the fish immersed in cold water, the contractions called crimping take place.
1873. E. Smith, Foods, 111. Crimping should be performed immediately after the fish has been caught, and before the rigor mortis has set in.
3. Comb., as crimping-iron, -machine, -pin, instruments for crimping frills, cap-borders, hair, etc.
1858. Simmonds, Dict. Trade, Crimping-iron, crimping-pin.
1877. Peacock, N. W. Linc. Gloss., Crimping-machine, an instrument with two indented rollers, in which heaters can be placed…. It is used for ‘crimping’ women’s frills and cap-borders.
