Crimp — Defs

01 v. t. To fold or plait in regular undulation in such a way that the material will retain the shape intended; to give a wavy appearance to; as, to…

imp. & p. p. Crimped; p. pr. & vb. n. Crimping

1.
To fold or plait in regular undulation in such a way that the material will retain the shape intended; to give a wavy appearance to; as, to crimp the border of a cap; to crimp a ruffle. Cf. Crisp. See: Crisp
“The comely hostess in a crimped cap.” — W. Irving.
2.
To pinch and hold; to seize.
3.
to entrap into the military or naval service; as, to crimp seamen.
“Coaxing and courting with intent to crimp him.” — Carlyle.
4.
To cause to contract, or to render more crisp, as the flesh of a fish, by gashing it, when living, with a knife; as, to crimp skate, etc.(Cookery)
5.
In cartridge making, to fold the edge of (a cartridge case) inward so as to close the mouth partly and confine the charge.(Firearms)

Phrases & compounds

Crimping house — a low lodging house, into which men are decoyed and plied with drink, to induce them to ship or enlist as sailors or soldiers.

Crimping iron — An iron instrument for crimping and curling the hair.

Crimping machine — a machine with fluted rollers or with dies, for crimping ruffles, leather, iron, etc.

Crimping pin — an instrument for crimping or puckering the border of a lady's cap.

02 a. Easily crumbled; friable; brittle.

1.
Easily crumbled; friable; brittle.[R.]
“Now the fowler . . . treads the crimp earth.” — J. Philips.
2.
Weak; inconsistent; contradictory.[R.]
“The evidence is crimp; the witnesses swear backward and forward, and contradict themselves.” — Arbuthnot.

03 n. A coal broker.

1.
A coal broker.[Prov. Eng.]
2.
One who decoys or entraps men into the military or naval service.
3.
A keeper of a low lodging house where sailors and emigrants are entrapped and fleeced.
4.
Hair which has been crimped; -- usually in pl.
5.
A game at cards.[Obs.]

Phrases & compounds

Boot crimp — See under Boot.