Also 7 creengle, 8 crengle, crencle. [app. of LG. origin: cf. Ger. (mostly LG. and MG.) kringel, MLG. and mod.LG. also krengel, dim. of kring circle, ring. Cf. Icel. kringla disc, circle, orb. From the verbal stem kring-: see CRANK sb.1, and cf. CRINKLE.]
1. Naut. A ring or eye of rope, containing a thimble, worked into the bolt-rope of a sail, for the attachment of a rope.
1627. Capt. Smith, Seaman’s Gram., v. 22. Creengles are little ropes spliced into the Bolt-ropes of all sailes belonging to the maine and fore mast, to which the bolings bridles are made fast.
1762. Falconer, Shipwr., II. 330. Each earing to its cringle first they bend.
1804. A. Duncan, Mariner’s Chron., Pref. 15. Bunt-Lines, ropes fastened to cringles on the bottom of square sails, to draw them up to the yards.
1867. Smyth, Sailor’s Word-bk., s.v., Cringles should be made of the strands of new bolt-rope.
b. Also in rural use: see quot.
1787–95. W. Marshall, Norfolk Gloss., Cringle, a with or rope for fastening a gate.
Hence 1847–78. in Halliwell.
2. = CRINKLE. dial.
1807. Vancouver, Agric. Devon (1813), 298. This plain … is generally without creeks or cringles, and forms one compact and even surface.
1877. N. W. Linc. Gloss. s.v. Crinkle, A brook in Roxby parish, the course of which is very circuitous, is called Cringlebeck [in 12–13th c. Cringelbec].
Hence Cringle v. dial.
1787–95. W. Marshall, Norfolk Gloss., Cringle up, to fasten with a cringle. See above.
