crammer 
The slightest lapse of memory In the had crammer, for 
iriHtiim-e. tin- (tuuin- of UP.IIL: lrit. T- in (lit- iliii^nini, will 
disclose the simulated chat-inter of hi- <.ik. 
Jevfiim, Social Reform, p. 84. 
2. A lie. [Slang.] 
Crammesyt, . ami . See i-nnnnixn . 
cramoisie, cramoisy (kram'oi-zi), a. and . 
[Also written rramn>rnii, etc., now crinmon: see 
crimson and ritnin/n.\ I, n. Crimson. [Ar- 
chaic.] 
A splendid seignior, magnificent in crainniny velvet. 
Mottey. 
He gathered for her some velvety cramouy roses that 
were above her reaeh. Mm. Gankell, North and Smith, Hi. 
U.t Crimson cloth. 
My love was clad in Murk velvet, 
And I my sell in cratnagie. 
'/;/, Walt/, but Lam be Bonny (Child's Ballads, IV. 134). 
Aurora, to mychty Tithone spous, 
Ischit of Mr gafferim bed nnd enyr hous, 
In cramtiietti/ clede and granit violate. 
fVarm Douylag, tr. of Virgil, p. 390. 
cramp 1 (kramp), n. [< ME. 'cramp, cramp, a 
elaWjpaw (the mechanical senses are not found 
in ME., and are prob. of D. origin), < AS.Vramn, 
"rromp (only in deriv. adj. crompeht, glossed fo- 
lialis, wrinkled) = MD. krampe = MLG. LG. 
krampe (> G. krampe) = OHG. chrampha, chram- 
phit (G. *krtiiiii>Jr displaced by krampe) = Dan. 
krumpe = Sw. krampa, a cramp, cramp-iron, 
hook, clasp; cf. It. grampa, a claw, talon, = OF. 
ernmpt, deriv. crampon, F. crampon, ML. cram- 
po(n-), a cramp, cramp-iron : from the Teut. ; 
Gael, cramb, a cramp-iron, holdfast, from the 
E. ; cf. grampel; ult., like the nearly related 
cramp 2 , n., a spasm, and cramp 1 , a., from the 
pret. of the verb represented by MD. Icrimpen 
= MLG. LG. Icrimpen = OHG. chrimphan, MHG. 
krimpfen, contract, cramp: see crimp, v., and 
crimple, crump, crumple, etc., and cf. crim, cram, 
and cf. clamp 1 and clam 1 as related to cramp 1 
and craw.] If. A claw; a paw. 
Lord, send us thi lomb 
Out of the wildernesses ston, 
To fende vs from the lyon crowp. 
Haiti Kuod (E. E. T. S.), p. 139. 
2. A piece of iron bent at the ends, serving to 
hold together pieces of timber, stones, etc. ; a 
clamp; a cramp-iron. See cramp-iron. 
I saw some pieces of grey marble about it [the temple 
of Apollo], which appeared to have been joined with iron 
cramp*. Poeocke, Description of the East, II. ii. 7. 
3. A bench-hook or holdfast. 4. A portable 
kind of iron press, having a screw at one end 
and a movable shoulder at the 
other, employed by carpenters 
and joiners for closely com- 
pressing the joints of frame- 
work. 5. A piece of wood 
having a curve corresponding to 
that of the upper part of the instep, on which 
the upper-leather of a boot is stretcned to give 
it the requisite shape. 6. That which hinders 
motion or expansion ; restraint ; confinement ; 
that which hampers. [Bare.] 
A narrow fortune is a cramp to a great mind. 
Sir R. L'Kttrange. 
Lock-fliers' cramp, a pair of leaden or brazen cheeks for 
a vise. r'. II. Km'trht. 
cramp 1 (kramp), a. [Not found in ME., but 
prob. existent (cf. OF. crtunpr, i/rumpe, bent, 
contracted, cramped, of Teut. origin : see crump- 
ish), = OHG. chramph, chramf, cramf, bent, 
cramped, = Icel. krappr (for *krampr), cramped, 
strait, narrow : derived, like the associated 
nouns, cramp 1 and cramp*, from the pret. of the 
verb represented by crimp: see cramp 1 , n., and 
cramp 2 , .] 1. Contracted; strait; cramped. 
2. Difficult; knotty; hard to decipher, as 
writing; crabbed. 
\\ |i:it > here ! a vile erami' hand ! I cannot see 
Without my spectacles. Sheridan, The Rivals, Prol. 
cramp 1 (kramp), v. t. [Not found in ME. (where 
it is represented by crampish, q. v.); = G. 
. krnmpfrn, fasten with a cramp ; from the noun. 
Cf. Icel. kreppa, cramp, clench, < krappr, cramp- 
ed: see cramp 1 , n., and cf. crimp, r., of which 
cramp 1 , r., may be regarded as in part a secon- 
dary form.] 1. To fasten, confine, or hold with 
a cramp-iron, fetter, or some similar device. 
Thou art tn lie in itrison, rrrni/>V with irons. 
B. Jotuon, Volpone, v. 8. 
2. To fashion or shape on a cramp : as, to cramp 
boot-legs. 3. To confine as if in or with a 
cramp ; hinder from free action or development; 
restrain ; hamper ; cripple. 
Why should our Faith l>f crumpil hy such iiuTcdllile 
Miseries as these, concerning the Son of Ood's coming 
into the World ? SMlimjlctt, sermons, III. lx. 
1329 
A lad of spirit is not to lie too much cramped in his 
maintenance. M r, Ho I 
cramp 2 (kramp), n. [< ME. crampe, craumne, 
< Ot. criimpr, F. (;/ (Ml., rrampa), < MD. 
I, rn in in'. I), krum/i = MLG. krampr. LG. krnin/i 
= AIIK1. fi-tiiii/ili, krampli, <!. km HI /if = Dan. 
krampf = Sw. krnm/i, cramp, spasm; derived, 
like the nearly related eroMp'. ., from the 
pret. of the verb represented by crimp : see 
rrampi, n. and i'.] An involuntary and painful 
contraction of a muscle, attended sometimes 
with convulsions or numbness; a variety of 
tonic spasm. It occurs most frequently in the calves 
of the legs, but also in the feet, hands, neck, etc., la of 
short duration, and is occasioned by some slight struiniiik: 
or wrenching movement, hy sudden chill, etc. Cramp is 
i >ftcn associated with constriction and griping pains of the 
stomach or intestines. It is commonest at night, and also 
often attacks swimmers. See tpatm. 
The cramnpe of deth. Chaucer, Troilus. 
Leander . . . went hut forth to wash him in the Helles- 
pont, and, heiiiK taken with the cramp, was drowned. 
Shalt., As you Like It, I-.. 1. 
Accommodation cramp, spasm of the ciliary muscle of 
the eye. Writers' cramp, scriveners' cramp. See tcric- 
ener. 
cramp 2 (kramp), r. t. [< cramp*, .] To affect 
with cramps or spasms. 
Heart, and I take you railing at my patron, sir, 
I'll cramp your joints ! 
(and otheri). The Widow, II. 2. 
Cranchiidac 
Joiners' Cramp. 
cramp-bark (kramp 'bark), n. In the United 
.States, the popular name of the Viburnum Ory- 
coccus, a medicinal plant having antispasmodic 
properties. 
cramp-bone (kramp'bon), n. The knee-cap of 
a sheep : so named because it was considered 
a charm against cramp. 
He could turn cramp-bona into chessmen. 
Dickeng, David Copperneld, xvli. 
cramp-drill (kramp'dril), n. A portable drill 
having a cutting and a feeding motion, in the 
figure shown, the feed-screw Is in the upper 
portion of the cramp-frame, and forms a 
sleeve around the drill-spindle, which ro- 
tates within it. E. //. Knight. 
crampet, crampettet, . See cram- 
pit. Phinche. 
cramp-fish (kramp'fish), . The elec- 
tric ray or torpedo. See torpedo. ' 
Also called cramp-ray, numb-fish, and wrymouth. 
The torpedo or tramp-jink also came to land. 
Sir T. Herbert, Travels, p. 384. 
cramp-iron (kramp'I'ern), n. An iron clamp; 
specifically, a piece of metal, usually iron, bent 
or T-shaped at each end, let 
taB Sn^ t>, e surfaces, in the same 
of two adjoining blocks 
across the joint be- 
cramp-irons. tween them, to hold them firm- 
ly together. Cramp-irons are com- 
monly employed in works requiring great solidity, and in 
such ordinary structures as stone copings and cornices, 
and are inserted either in the upper surface of a course 
or between two courses or beds of stones. Also called 
cramp anil crntnjnt. 
crampisht (kram'pish), r. t. [ME. crampishcn, 
craumpisjhcn, contract, < OF. crampwt-, stem 
of certain parts of crampir, be twisted, bend, 
contract, < erampe, twisted, bent, contracted, 
cramped: see cramp, n.] To contract; cramp; 
contort. 
She . . . crampisheth [var. cravmjninshfth] her lymea 
crokedly. Chaucer, Auelida and Arclte, 1. 171. 
Man with his rrainpuiu and harping-irona can draw 
ashore the great l/evlathan. Unwell, I'arly of Beauts, p. 7. 
3. In lint., an adventitious root which serves as 
a fulcrum or support, as in the ivy. 
cramponee (kram-po-ne'), a. [< F. rnimponnf, 
pp. of cramponnrr, fasten with a cramp, < rrmn 
pon, a cramp-iron, also a cramponee : see 
crampon,] In her., having a cramp or square 
piece at each end: applied to a cross. 
crampoon, . Kee crampon. 
cramp-ray (kramp'ra), n. Same as cramp-fish. 
cramp-ring (kramp'ring), ii. A ring of gold or 
silver, which, after being blessed by the sover- 
eign, was formerly believed to cure cramp and 
falling-sickness. The custom of blessing great 
numbers on Good Friday continued down to the 
time of Queen Mary. [Eng.] 
The kfnge's majestic hath a great helpe In this matter, 
in hallowing crampe ringen, and so given without money 
or petition. Horde, Breviary of Health (ed. 1598), cccxxvii. 
cramp-stone (kramp'ston), n. A stone former- 
ly worn upon the person as a supposed preven- 
tive of cramp. 
crampy (kram'pi), a. [< cramp* + -jl.] 1. 
Afflicted with cramp. 2. Inducing cramp or 
abounding in cramp. 
This crampy country. Hovitt. 
cran (kran), n. [< Gael, crann, a measure of 
fresh herrings, as many as fill a barrel.] A local 
Scotch measure of capacity for fresh herrings, 
equal to 34 United States (old wine) gallons. 
Also crane. TO coup the crans. See mpi. 
cranage (kra'naj),n. [< crane* + -age.] 1. The 
liberty of using at a wharf a crane for raising 
wares from a vessel. 2. The price paid for 
the use of a crane. 
cranberry (kran'ber'i), n. ; pi. cranberries (-iz). 
[That is, 'craneberry (= G. lcranbeere(or kranich- 
bctre) = Sw. tranbar = Dan. tranebter, a cran- 
berry ) ? < crane 1 + berry 1 . The reason of the 
name is not obvious.] 1. The fruit of several 
species of r<ic<i'Mm. In Europe it Is the fruit of V. 
Oxycnccu, also called bwjwort, mosttberry, or moorberry, as 
It grows only In peat-bogs or swampy la'nd, usually among 
masses of sphagnum. The berry, when ripe, is globose and 
dark-red, and a little more than a quarter of an inch in 
diameter. The berries form a sauce of tine flavor, and are 
much used for tarts. The same species is called in the 
United States the email cranl>erry, in distinction from the 
or T-snap 
a into the s 
plane, of I 
of stone, 
crampit (kram ' pit), n. [Also written cram- 
pet, and (accom.) cramp-bit; appar. < Gael. 
crambaid, crambait, crampaid in same sense 
(def. 1): cf. Gael, cramb, a cramp-iron; but 
the Gael, words are prob. of Teut. origin : see 
cramp 1 .] 1. A cap of metal at the end of the 
scabbard of a sword ; a chape. 2. (a) A cramp- 
iron. (6) A piece of iron with small spikes in 
it, made to fit the sole of the shoe, for keeping 
the footing firm on ice or slippery ground. 
[Scotch.] 3. In her., the representation of 
the chape of a scabbard, used as a bearing. 
cramp-joint (kramp'joint), . A joint having 
its parts bound together by locking bars, used 
where special strength is required. See cramp- 
iron. 
crampon, crampoon (kram'pon, kram-poV), 
. [F. crampon, a cramp-iron, calk, frost-nail, 
prop, fulcrum : see rramp 1 . .] 1. An iron in- 
strument fastened to the shoes of a storming 
party, to assist them in climbing a rampart. 
2. An apparatus used in the raising of heavy 
weights, as timber or stones, and consisting 
of two hooked pieces of iron hinged together 
somewhat like double calipers. 
Cranberry t t'acciHium mactvtarjoti). 
much larger fruit of the r. maerocarpon, which is ex- 
tensively cultivated and gathered in large quantities for 
the market. The cowberry, I'iti* Idcea, Is sometimes call- 
ed the mountain cranberry. 
2. The plant which bears this fruit.- High cran- 
berry, or bush cranberry. See cranberry tree. 
cranberry-gatherer (kran'ber-i-gaTH'er-er),M. 
An implement, shaped somewhat like a rake, 
used in picking cranberries. 
cranberry-tree (kran'ber-i-tre), n. The high or 
bush cranberry, Viburnum Onulns, a shrub of 
North America and Europe, bearing soft, red, 
globose, acrid drupes or berries. The cultivated 
form, with sterile flowers having enlarged corollas, ia 
known as the ntmrball or yutlder-rote. 
crance (krans), n. Aa<., an old name for any 
boom-iron, but particularly for an iron cap at- 
tached to the outer end of the bowsprit, through 
which the jib-boom passes. 
cranch (kraneh), r. t. Same as craunch. 
Cranchia (kranch 'i-S), n. [NL. (Leach), < 
Cranch, an E. proper name.] The typical ge- 
nus of the family Crancliiidte. 
cranchiid (krandi'i-id), H. A cephalopod of the 
family Cninchiidie. 
Cranchiidae (kranch -i'i -de), n. pi. fNL., < 
Cranchia + -idee.] A family of acetabuliferous 
