Thieves’ slang. Obs. Also 6 crainke. [app. a. Du. or Ger. krank sick, ill; also formerly in Ger. as sb. ‘one that is sick or ill.’ (The 16th c. vagabonds’ cant contains words taken directly from continental languages.)]
(In full, counterfeit crank.) A rogue who feigned sickness in order to move compassion and get money.
1567. Harman, Caveat, xi. 51. These that do counterfet the Cranke be yong knaues and yonge harlots, that depely dissemble the falling sicknes. For the Cranke in their language is the falling euyll…. There came earely in the morninge a Counterfet Cranke vnder my lodgynge … this Cranke there lamentably lamentinge.
a. 1590. Marr. Wit & Wisd. (1846), 13. She sent me the Counterfait crainke for to play.
1594. T. B., La Primaud. Fr. Acad., II. 167. There are some counterfeit crankes … who vpon some occasion haue by meere knauery fained themselues such.
1621–51. Burton, Anat. Mel., I. ii. IV. vi. 159. Jodocus Damhoderius … hath some notable examples of such counterfeit Cranks.
1622. Fletcher, Beggar’s Bush, II. i. Jarkman, or patrico, cranke, or clapperdudgeon.
