Also 6–9 cress. [See CREASE sb.2]
1. trans. To make a crease or creases in or on the surface of; to wrinkle; to fold in a crease.
1588. J. Mellis, Briefe Instr., F viij b. A leafe of paper … cressed in the middes.
1594. Nashe, Terrors of Night, C iv b. The clearest spring a little tucht is creased wyth a thousand circles.
1665. Hooke, Microgr., 9. They double all the Stuff … that is, they cresse it just through the middle of it, the whole length of the piece.
1824. Galt, Rothelan, I. II. viii. 212. Seeing Sir Gabriel de Glowr cressing and cross-folding … the broidered vestments.
1853. Kane, Grinnell Exp., iv. (1856), 34. The clean abrupt edge of the fractures … creased their otherwise symmetrical outline.
b. To cut deep furrows in the flesh (of mackerel, cod, etc.); to crimp. Cf. CREASING vbl. sb.2 3, quot. 1883.
2. intr. To become creased, fall into creases.
1876. Geo. Eliot, Dan. Der., III. 106. ‘The legs are good realistically,’ said Hans, his face creasing drolly.
Mod. A material that is apt to crease.
3. trans. To stun (a horse, etc.) by a shot in the ‘crest’ or ridge of the neck. (U.S.)
1807. Pike, Sources Mississ., II. 159. We fired at a black horse, with an idea of creasing him.
1841. Catlin, N. Amer. Ind. (1844), II. xli. 58. We would try the experiment of creasing one [buffalo], which is done by shooting them through the gristle on the top of the neck, which stuns them so that they fall.
Crease (Mining): see CRAZE sb. 3.
