crimp

[krimp]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR crimp ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object)

to press into small regular folds; make wavy.

to curl (hair), especially with the use of a curling iron.

to press or draw together, as the ends of something.

to check, restrain, or inhibit; hinder: Production was crimped by a shortage of workers.

Cookery.

to pinch and press down the edges of (a pie crust), especially to seal together the top and bottom layers of pastry.
to gash (the flesh of a live fish or of one just killed) with a knife to make more crisp when cooked.

to produce a corrugated surface in; corrugate, as sheet metal, cardboard, etc.

to bend (leather) into shape.

Metalworking.

to bend the edges of (skelp) before forming into a tube.
to fold the edges of (sheet metal) to make a lock seam.

noun

the act of crimping.

a crimped condition or form.

Usually crimps. waves or curls, especially in hair that has been crimped or that displays a crimped pattern.

the waviness of wool fibers as naturally grown on sheep.

the waviness imparted to natural or synthetic fibers by weaving, knitting, plaiting, or other processes.

a crease formed in sheet metal or plate metal to make the material less flexible or for fastening purposes.

Idioms

put a crimp in, to interfere with; hinder: His broken leg put a crimp in their vacation plans.

Origin of crimp

1350–1400; Middle English crympen, Old English gecrympan to curl, derivative of crump crooked

Related formscrimp·er, noun

crimp

[krimp]

noun

a person engaged in enlisting sailors, soldiers, etc., by persuasion, swindling, or coercion.

verb (used with object)

to enlist (sailors, soldiers, etc.) by such means.

Origin of crimp

First recorded in 1630–40; special use of crimp¹

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for crimp

screw, scrunch, crisp, pleat, undulate, flow, wrinkle, wave, ruck, set, crinkle, swirl, coil, crease, crumple, frizz, rimple, crimple

Examples from the Web for crimp

Contemporary Examples of crimp

Fold over the edges and crimp, then trim any remaining excess.
Make ‘The Chew’s’ Carla Hall’s Pumpkin Pecan Pie
Carla Hall
December 26, 2014
It might also put a bit of a crimp in the economies of states like New York and Delaware.
After the Fiscal Cliff: What do Democrats Want?
Megan McArdle
January 2, 2013
The lockout may not put a crimp in the day of the typical sports fan.
Cancellation of NHL Games Has Negative Economic Impact
Miranda Green
December 12, 2012
Hydraulic fracking is helping put a crimp on Russian Oligarchs, extending even to the Kremlin.
Hydraulic Fracking's Putting the Screws to Vladimir and Friends
Justin Green
September 28, 2012
Mining companies argue that the tax will crimp investment in a vital sector of the economy.
Gina Rinehart, One of World’s Richest Women, Embroiled in a Family Feud
Raymond Bonner
February 8, 2012

Historical Examples of crimp

Close and crimp the edges nicely, and fry the rissoles in butter.
Directions for Cookery, in its Various Branches
Eliza Leslie
Prick them with a fork, and crimp or scollop the edges neatly.
Directions for Cookery, in its Various Branches
Eliza Leslie
A crimp had carried this chap on board, dumped him, got his ten dollars and left.
The Harbor
Ernest Poole
That may put a crimp in their plans, check the invasion up above.
Two Thousand Miles Below
Charles Willard Diffin
It was made by Crimp, of Nassau Street, and box and all cost four pound twelve.'
Lord Kilgobbin
Charles Lever

British Dictionary definitions for crimp

crimp

verb (tr)

to fold or press into ridges

to fold and pinch together (something, such as the edges of two pieces of metal)

to curl or wave (the hair) tightly, esp with curling tongs

to decorate (the edge of pastry) by pinching with the fingers to give a fluted effect

to gash (fish or meat) with a knife to make the flesh firmer and crisper when cooked

to bend or mould (leather) into shape, as for shoes

metallurgy to bend the edges of (a metal plate) before forming into a cylinder

informal, mainly US to hinder

noun

the act or result of folding or pressing together or into ridges

a tight wave or curl in the hair

a crease or fold in a metal sheet

the natural wave of wool fibres

Derived Formscrimper, nouncrimpy, adjective

Word Origin for crimp

Old English crympan; related to crump bent, Old Norse kreppa to contract, Old High German crumpf, Old Swedish crumb crooked; see cramp 1

crimp

noun

(formerly) a person who swindled or pressganged men into naval or military service

verb

to recruit by coercion or under false pretences

Word Origin for crimp

C17: of unknown origin

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for crimp

1630s; Old English had gecrympan "to crimp, curl," but the modern word probably is from Middle Dutch or Low German crimpen/krimpen "to shrink, crimp." Related: Crimped; crimping.

1863, from crimp (v.). Originally "natural curl in wool fiber." To put a crimp in (something) is 1896, U.S. slang.