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Thesaurus: crank

A bent portion of an axle, or shaft, or an arm keyed at right angles to the end of a shaft, by which motion is imparted to or received from it; also used to change circular into reciprocating motion, or reciprocating int…

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  1. n. A bent portion of an axle, or shaft, or an arm keyed at right angles to the end of a shaft, by which motion is imparted to or received from it; also used to change circular into reciprocating motion, or reciprocating into circular motion. See Bell crank.
  2. n. Any bend, turn, or winding, as of a passage.
  3. n. A word/twist">twist or word/turn">turn in speech; a conceit consisting in a change of the form or meaning of a word.
  4. n. A twist or turn of the mind; caprice; whim; crotchet; also, a fit of temper or passion.
  5. n. A person full of crotchets; one given to fantastic or impracticable projects; one whose judgment is perverted in respect to a particular matter.
  6. n. A sick person; an invalid.
  7. n. Sick; infirm.
  8. n. Liable to careen or be overset, as a ship when she is too narrow, or has not sufficient ballast, or is loaded too high, to carry full sail.
  9. n. Full of spirit; brisk; lively; sprightly; overconfident; opinionated.
  10. n. To run with a winding course; to double; to crook; to wind and turn.
  11. adj. (used of boats) inclined to heel over easily under sail
  12. n. a bad-tempered person