crank etymology

Etymology:

  • Middle English: "cranken," from Old English "cranc" (a bend, turn, or twist)
  • Proto-Germanic: "*krankjaz" (crooked, twisted)
  • Proto-Indo-European: "*krenk-" (to bend)

Meaning:

  • To turn or twist a handle or lever in a circular motion
  • To operate a machine or device by turning a handle
  • To exert great effort or strain
  • An object or part that turns in a circular motion, such as a crank on a bicycle

Origin:

The word "crank" comes from the Middle English word "cranken," which itself comes from the Old English word "cranc." "Crank" in its original sense referred to a bend, turn, or twist. Over time, the word came to be used more specifically for a handle or lever that is turned in a circular motion to operate a machine or device. By the 16th century, "crank" was also used figuratively to describe someone who is eccentric or overly enthusiastic.

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