Emily Dickinson Lexicon

CRAMP, n. [Sax. hramma; D. kramp; G. Dan. and Sw. krampe; It. rampone, a cramp-iron. Qu. Ir. crampa, a knot. If m is radical, this word may accord with the Celtic crom, G. krumm, crooked, from shrinking, contracting. But if p is radical, this word accords with the W. craf, a clasp, a cramp-iron, crafu, to secure hold of, to comprehend, Ir. crapadh, to shrink or contract. The sense is to strain or stretch.]

1. Spasm; the contraction of a limb, or some muscle of the body, attended with pain, and sometimes with convulsions, or numbness.
2. Restraint; confinement; that which hinders from motion or expansion. A narrow fortune is a cramp to a great mind. – L'Estrange.
3. A piece of iron bent at the ends, serving to hold together pieces of timber, stones, &c.; a cramp-iron. [Fr. crampon; It. rampone.]