crimp

Pronunciation: /kɹɪmp/

Estimated CEFR level: C2 — Proficiency

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. noun an angular or rounded shape made by folding
  2. noun someone who tricks or coerces men into service as sailors or soldiers
  3. noun a lock of hair that has been artificially waved or curled

Etymology

From Middle English crimpen (“to be contracted, be drawn together”), from Middle Dutch crimpen, crempen (“to crimp”), from Proto-Germanic *krimpaną (“to shrink, draw back”) (compare related Old English ġecrympan (“to curl”)). Cognate with Dutch krimpen, German Low German krimpen, Faroese kreppa (“crisis”), and Icelandic kreppa (“to bend tightly, clench”). Compare also derivative Middle English crymplen (“to wrinkle”) and causative crempen (“to turn something back, restrain”, literally “to cause to shrink or draw back”), both ultimately derived from the same root. See also cramp.

In classic literature

Synonyms

fold, crease, plication, flexure, bend

Semantic network

Broader (hypernyms)
angular shape
Narrower (hyponyms)
pucker, pleat, kink

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