01 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…
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1.
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.(Mach.) See: Bell crank
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2.
Any bend, turn, or winding, as of a passage.“So many turning cranks these have, so many crooks.” — Spenser.
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3.
A twist or turn in speech; a conceit consisting in a change of the form or meaning of a word.“Quips, and cranks, and wanton wiles.” — Milton.
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4.
A twist or turn of the mind; caprice; whim; crotchet; also, a fit of temper or passion.[Prov. Eng.]“Violent of temper; subject to sudden cranks.” — Carlyle.
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5.
A person full of crotchets; one given to fantastic or impracticable projects; one whose judgment is perverted in respect to a particular matter.[Colloq.]
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6.
A sick person; an invalid.[Obs.]“Thou art a counterfeit crank, a cheater.” — Burton.
Phrases & compounds
Crank axle —
a driving axle formed with a crank or cranks, as in some kinds of locomotives.
Crank pin —
the cylindrical piece which forms the handle, or to which the connecting rod is attached, at the end of a crank, or between the arms of a double crank.
Crank shaft —
a shaft bent into a crank, or having a crank fastened to it, by which it drives or is driven.
Crank wheel —
a wheel acting as a crank, or having a wrist to which a connecting rod is attached.