Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Cramp
Cramp
(krămp)
, Noun.
[OE.
crampe
, craumpe
; akin to D. & Sw. kramp
, Dan. krampe
, G. krampf
(whence F. crampe
), Icel. krappr
strait, narrow, and to E. crimp
, crumple
; cf. cram
. See Grape
.] 1.
That which confines or contracts; a restraint; a shackle; a hindrance.
A narrow fortune is a
cramp
to a great mind. L’Estrange.
Crippling his pleasures with the
cramp
of fear. Cowper.
2.
(Masonry)
A device, usually of iron bent at the ends, used to hold together blocks of stone, timbers, etc.; a cramp iron.
3.
(Carp.)
A rectangular frame, with a tightening screw, used for compressing the joints of framework, etc.
4.
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 stretched to give it the requisite shape.
5.
(Med.)
A spasmodic and painful involuntary contraction of a muscle or muscles, as of the leg.
The
cramp
, divers nights, gripeth him in his legs. Sir T. More.
Cramp bone
, the patella of a sheep; – formerly used as a charm for the cramp.
Halliwell.
“He could turn cramp bones into chess men.” Dickens.
– Cramp ring
, a ring formerly supposed to have virtue in averting or curing cramp, as having been consecrated by one of the kings of England on Good Friday.
Cramp
,Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Cramped
(krămt; 215); p. pr. & vb. n.
Cramping
.] 1.
To compress; to restrain from free action; to confine and contract; to hinder.
The mind my be as much
cramped
by too much knowledge as by ignorance. Layard.
2.
To fasten or hold with, or as with, a cramp.
3.
Hence, to bind together; to unite.
The . . . fabric of universal justic is well
cramped
and bolted together in all its parts. Burke.
4.
To form on a cramp;
as, to
. cramp
boot legs5.
To afflict with cramp.
When the gout
cramps
my joints. Ford.
To cramp the wheels of wagon
, to turn the front wheels out of line with the hind wheels, so that one of them shall be against the body of the wagon.
Cramp
,Adj.
[See ]
Cramp
, Noun.
Knotty; difficult.
[R.]
Care being taken not to add any of the
cramp
reasons for this opinion. Coleridge.
Webster 1828 Edition
Cramp
CRAMP
,Noun.
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.
3.
A piece of iron bent at the ends, serving to hold together pieces of timber, stones, &c.; a cramp-iron.CRAMP
,Verb.
T.
1.
To pain or affect with spasms.2.
To confine; to restrain; to hinder from action or expansion; as, to cramp the exertions of a nation; to cramp the genius.3.
To fasten, confine or hold with a cramp or cramp-iron.CRAMP
,Adj.
Definition 2024
cramp
cramp
English
Noun
cramp (plural cramps)
- A painful contraction of a muscle which cannot be controlled.
- Sir T. More
- The cramp, divers nights, gripeth him in his legs.
- Sir T. More
- That which confines or contracts; a restraint; a shackle; a hindrance.
- L'Estrange
- A narrow fortune is a cramp to a great mind.
- Cowper
- crippling his pleasures with the cramp of fear
- L'Estrange
- A clamp for carpentry or masonry.
- 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 stretched to give it the requisite shape.
Derived terms
Terms derived from cramp
Translations
painful contraction of a muscle
|
clamp for carpentry or masonry
Verb
cramp (third-person singular simple present cramps, present participle cramping, simple past and past participle cramped)
- (intransitive) (of a muscle) To contract painfully and uncontrollably.
- (transitive) To prohibit movement or expression.
- You're cramping my style.
- Layard
- The mind may be as much cramped by too much knowledge as by ignorance.
- (transitive) To restrain to a specific physical position, as if with a cramp.
- You're going to need to cramp the wheels on this hill.
- Ford
- when the gout cramps my joints
- To fasten or hold with, or as if with, a cramp.
- (by extension) To bind together; to unite.
- Burke
- The […] fabric of universal justice is well cramped and bolted together in all its parts.
- Burke
- To form on a cramp.
- to cramp boot legs
Translations
to contract painfully and uncontrollably
|
to prohibit movement or expression
to restrain to a specific physical position
|
|
References
- “cramp” in Douglas Harper, Online Etymology Dictionary (2001).