Crisp — Defs

01 a. Curling in stiff curls or ringlets; as, crisp hair.

1.
Curling in stiff curls or ringlets; as, crisp hair.
2.
Curled with the ripple of the water.[Poetic]
“You nymphs called Naiads, of the winding brooks . . . Leave jour crisp channels.” — Shak.
3.
Brittle; friable; in a condition to break with a short, sharp fracture; as, crisp snow.
“The cakes at tea ate short and crisp.” — Goldsmith.
4.
Possessing a certain degree of firmness and freshness; in a fresh, unwilted condition.
“It [laurel] has been plucked nine months, and yet looks as hale and crisp as if it would last ninety years.” — Leigh Hunt.
5.
Lively; sparking; effervescing.
“Your neat crisp claret.” — Beau. & Fl.
6.
Brisk; crackling; cheerful; lively.
“The snug, small room, and the crisp fire.” — Dickens.

02 v. t. To curl; to form into ringlets, as hair, or the nap of cloth; to interweave, as the branches of trees.

imp. & p. p. Crisped; p. pr. & vb. n. Crisping

1.
To curl; to form into ringlets, as hair, or the nap of cloth; to interweave, as the branches of trees.
2.
To cause to undulate irregularly, as crape or water; to wrinkle; to cause to ripple. Cf. Crimp. See: Crimp
“The lover with the myrtle sprays Adorns his crisped tresses.” — Drayton.

“Along the crisped shades and bowers.” — Milton.

“The crisped brooks, Rolling on orient pearl and sands of gold.” — Milton.
3.
To make crisp or brittle, as in cooking.

Phrases & compounds

Crisping iron — an instrument by which hair or any textile fabric is crisped.

Crisping pin — the simplest form of crisping iron.

03 v. i. To undulate or ripple. Cf. Crisp, v. t.

1.
To undulate or ripple. Cf. Crisp, v. t. See: Crisp
“To watch the crisping ripples on the beach.” — Tennuson.

04 n. That which is crisp or brittle; the state of being crisp or brittle; as, burned to a crisp; specifically, the rind of roasted pork; crackling.

1.
That which is crisp or brittle; the state of being crisp or brittle; as, burned to a crisp; specifically, the rind of roasted pork; crackling.