sb., a. and adv. Chiefly dial. [Frequentative reduplication of CRANKLE: cf. CRINGLE-CRANGLE.]
A. sb. A winding in and out, a zigzag, sinuosity.
1598. Florio, Sinuoso … that is full of creekes, bosomes, or crinkle-crankles.
1620. Thomas, Lat. Dict., Sinuosus … that hath many turnings … full of crinckle cranckles.
B. adj. and adv. (Twisting) in and out, zig-zag.
1840. Spurdens, Suppl. Voc. E. Anglia, Crincle-crancle adv., like a corkscrew.
1869. Lonsdale Gloss., Crinkle-crankle, Crinklety-cranklety, adv., zig-zag.
1881. Leicestersh. Gloss., Crinkle-crankle adj. and adv., zig-zag; sinuous.
Hence Crinkle-crankled ppl. a. † Crincledum and crancledum, tortuously.
1858. Motley, Corr., 4 July. With a wonderful profusion of gilt flaxen crinkle-crankled hair.
1660. H. Peters, in Bp. Kennett, Register, 35. This was still the Lord’s right way who led His people crincledum and crancledum.
