crank, cranke

[An original English root, of which other languages have only le distinct traces: the original form was krank =to bend, to twist. Cf. Dut. kronkel a rumple, a wrinkle; kronkeln = to rumple, to wrinkle, to bend, to turn, to wind. ( Skeat.)] [CRANK, a.] IMG:content-1242.png:[graphic] A. Ordinary Language: I. Lit. ( Of a material body , as a planet, .): 1. A turn, winding, or revolution. "So likewise grim Sir Saturne oft doth spare His sterne aspect, and cal me his crabbed lookes. So many turning cranks these have, so many crookes." Spenser: F. Q., VII. vii. 52. 2. In the same sense as B. *II. Figuratively : 1. Any turn, revolution, or vici itude. "Through the cranks and offices of man." Shakesp.: Coriol ., i. 1. 2. Any conceit formed by twisting or changing iu to be the same as Phrenology (q.v.), but the examination of the cranium is an e ential part of anatomy, altogether independent of the inferences with regard to the mental proclivities which may be crania is also e ential to ethnology and arched educed from it. The comparison of different ology. crā-ni-om-ět-er, s . [Gr. kranion = the skull, and metron =a measure.] An instrument for measuring the sizes of skulls. Dr. Morton gives the following as the average result of numerous measurements of skulls: IMG:content-1243.png:[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][merged small]