subs. (old).—1. Hard, unpronounceable vocables; CRACK-JAW WORDS (q.v.).
1748. T. DYCHE, A New General English Dictionary (5 ed.). CRAMP WORDS (s.): hard, difficult, unusual or uncommon words.
1779. HANNAH COWLEY, Who’s the Dupe? II., ii. Grang. Oh, I’ve been in the Dictionary this half-hour—and have pick’d up CRAMP WORDS enough to puzzle and delight the Old Gentleman the remainder of his life.
1812. COMBE, Dr. Syntax, Tour in Search of Picturesque, C. xxv.
| Who get CRAMP WORDS, and court the Muse | |
| In Magazines and in Reviews. |
2. (thieves’).—Sentence of death. [A figurative usage of sense 1.]
1748. T. DYCHE, A New General English Dictionary (5 ed.). CRAMP-WORDS (s.) … also in the canting dialect the sentence of death pass’d by the judge upon a criminal.
1785. GROSE, A Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue. He has just undergone the CRAMP-WORD.
