Emily Dickinson Lexicon

CRANK, n. [This word probably belongs to the root of cringe, krinkle, to bend. D. krinkel, a curl; kronkel, a bend or winding; and krank, weak, is probably from bending; Ir. freanc, to make crooked. Qu כרע, or the root of crook.]

1. Literally, a bend or turn. Hence, an iron axis with the end bent like an elbow, for moving a piston, the saw in a saw-mill, &c., and causing it to rise and fall at every turn.
2. Any bend, turn or winding. – Shak.
3. A twisting or turning in speech; a conceit which consists in a change of the form or meaning of a word. Quips and cranks, and wanton wiles. – Milton.
4. An iron brace for various purposes. – Mar. Dict.