Crimp1. (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 crimp the border of a cap; to crimp a ruffle. Cf. Crisp.
2. (v. t.) To pinch and hold; to seize.
3. (v. t.) to entrap into the military or naval service; as, to crimp seamen.
4. (v. t.) 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.
5. (a.) Easily crumbled; friable; brittle.
6. (a.) Weak; inconsistent; contradictory.
7. (n.) A coal broker.
8. (n.) One who decoys or entraps men into the military or naval service.
9. (n.) A keeper of a low lodging house where sailors and emigrants are entrapped and fleeced.
10. (n.) Hair which has been crimped; -- usually in pl.
11. (n.) A game at cards.
Thesaurus Entries
Vandyke, abduce, abduct, abductor, aqueduct, bar, bit, blaze, bollix, bridle, bunco artist, bunco steerer, canal, canalization, canalize, cardsharp, cardsharper, carpetbagger, carry away, carry off, carve, chamfer, channel, check, chisel, chop, cocker, cockle, coil, con artist, con man, confidence man, constrain, corrugate, corrugation, crab, crack, cramp, crankle, crease, creasing, crenellate, crenulate, crimper, crimple, crinkle, crisp, crumbly, crumple, curl, cut, dado, dike, ditch, dog-ear, double, double over, doubling, duplicature, enfold, engrave, entrenchment, flection, flexure, flounce, flute, fold, fold over, fosse, foul up, friable, frill, frizz, frizzle, furrow, gash, gather, goffer, gouge, groove, gully, gum, gum up, gutter, ha-ha, hamper, hold back, hold down, hold for ransom, hold in, horse coper, horse trader, hurdle, impediment, impress, incise, indent, infold, inhibit, interfold, jackleg, jag, kennel, kidnap, kidnapper, kink, knit, knot, knurl, land pirate, land shark, land-grabber, lap over, lapel, lappet, lock, louse up, machicolate, mill, moat, mortgage shark, mountain, nick, notch, obstruction, pettifogger, picot, pink, pitchman, plait, plat, pleat, plica, plicate, plication, plicature, plow, ply, ponytail, pucker, pulverizable, pulverulent, purse, queer, quill, rabbet, ridge, rifle, rimple, ringlet, ripple, rivel, rub, ruche, ruching, ruck, ruckle, ruff, ruffle, rumple, run away with, rut, scallop, scarify, score, scotch, scratch, screw, scrunch, serrate, shanghai, shanghaier, shark, sharp, sharper, sharpie, shirr, shortchanger, shyster, skyjack, slash, slicker, slit, snafu, snag, snatch, spieler, spirit away, streak, striate, sunk fence, tooth, trench, triturable, trough, tuck, turn over, twill, wimple, withhold, wrinkle