noun

1. a handle or arm bent at right angles and connected to a shaft of a machine, used to transmit motion or to change rotary motion into reciprocating motion, or vice versa
2. Informal
   1. a person who has odd, stubborn notions about something; eccentric
   2. an irritable, complaining person; cranky person
3. Archaic a bend or turn
4. Rare
   1. a fanciful or unusual turn of speech or thought; conceit
   2. a queer or fantastic action or idea; whim; caprice

Etymology: ME < OE cranc-, as in crancstæf, yarn comb, cringe, crinkle: basic sense “something twisted”: for IE base see cradle

transitive verb

1. to form into the shape of a crank
2. to start or operate by means of a crank
3. Rare to provide with a crank

intransitive verb

1. to turn a crank, as in starting an engine or operating a device
2. Obsolete to wind and twist; zigzag

adjective

1. Naut. cranky (sense )
2. loose and shaky: said of machinery

Etymology: earlier crank sided < Du or Fris krengd, laid over (< krengan, to push over, lit., make cringe; akin to cringe): assimilated in form to crank

adjective

1. Now Dial. high-spirited; lively
2. cocky

Etymology: LME cranke < ?