Obs. Also 5–6 crysp, kirsp, kyrsp, 6–7 crispe. [app. f. the adj.; cf. 16th c. F. crespe crape or material for veils, mod.F. crêpe crape. In the entries in the Testamenta Eboracensia ‘cryspe’ appears to interchange with ‘cypres’ = Cyprus lawn: see CYPRUS.]
1. Some thin or delicate textile fabric, used esp. by women for veils or head-coverings; ? a crape-like material. Cf. CRISP a. 3.
1397. Test. Ebor., I. 220. Flameolam me’ de crispo. Ibid. (1402), I. 289. ij flameola de cipres. Ibid. (1415), I. 382. Flameolum de krespe.
c. 1460. Towneley Myst., 313. And Nelle with hir nyfyls of crisp and of sylke.
1498. Ld. Treas. Acc. Scot., I. 392. Item, for xxiiij elne of kyrsp to hir for ilk elne iijs iiijd.
1500–20. Dunbar, Tua Mariit Wemen, 23. Curches … of kirsp cleir and thin.
c. 1600. Burel, in Watson, Coll. Sc. Poems, II. 13 (Jam.). A robe Of clenely crispe, side to his kneis.
1619. Purchas, Microcosmus, xxvii. 268. The new deuised names of Stuffes and Colours, Crispe, Tamet, Plush … Callimanco, Sattinisco.
2. A head-covering or veil made of this material.
1584. Hudson, trans. Du Bartas’ Judith, IV. (1608), 57. Upon her head a silver crispe she pind Loose waving on her shoulders with the wind.
1593. Greene, Mamillia, II. Poems (Rtldg.), 316. Needless noughts, as crisps and scarfs, worn a la morisco.
1597. Montgomerie, Cherrie & Slae, 113. Ane cleinlie crispe hang ouir his eyes [Latinized by Dempster Involvens nivea de sindone lumina velo].
3. A crisp kind of pastry made by dropping batter into boiling fat. [So OF. crispes in W. de Biblesworth.]
c. 1390[?]. Form of Cury, 73. Cryspes.
a. 1422. Dinner Hen. V., in Q. Eliz. Acad., etc. 91. Cryspes fryez.
c. 1430. Two Cookery-bks., 44. Cryspez. Ibid. (1450), 93. Cryspes.
4. A curl (of hair); esp. a short or close curl.
1634. Sir T. Herbert, Trav. (1638), 325. They … weare their hayre pretty long, and about their crispes wreath a valuable Shash or Tulipaut.
c. 1680. Roxb. Ball., VI. 278. Those bright locks of hair Spreading o’re each ear, Every crisp and curle.
5. The ‘crackling’ of roast pork. Obs. exc. dial.
1675. T. Duffett, Mock Tempest, II. ii. Methinks I hear a great she Devil, call for [a] Groats worth of the Crispe of my Countenance.
1847–78. Halliwell, Crisp, pork crackling. South.
