Also 4–6 cromple, -pyl, -pull. [In form, a dim. and iterative of CRUMP v.1, for the affinities of which see Note to CRAMP sb.1 As OE. y frequently gave later u, crumple might arise merely as a later form of crymple, crimple; but the historical evidence does not favor this.
Found first in pa. pple. which might belong either to an intr. or trans. vb. (cf. withered, faded); see CRUMPLED.]
1. intr. To become incurved or crushed together; to contract and shrivel up; to become creased or wrinkled by being crushed together.
1528. Paynel, Salerne’s Regim., C iij. To crompull to gether like parchement cast in the fire.
1577. Stanyhurst, Descr. Irel., ii. in Holinshed, I. II. 13. It [aqua vitæ] keepeth and preserueth the veines from crumpling.
1633. T. James, Voy., 63. The snow … crumples and so runnes vpon it selfe, that in a few houres it will be fiue or sixe foote thicke.
1681. H. More, Exp. Dan., vi. 193. Hence it is that men crumple so in persecution.
1855. Trollope, Warden, vi. How … the muslin fluttered and crumpled before Eleanor and another nymph were duly seated at the piano.
2. trans. To crook, bend together, contort; in mod. use, esp. by crushing.
1613. Beaum. & Fl., Honest Man’s Fort., II. iii. He would have crumpled, curled, and shrunk [v.r. struck] himselfe out of the shape of man.
1615. Crooke, Body of Man, 268. He sitteth in the wombe crumpled, contracted or bent round.
1630. J. Taylor (Water P.), Trav., Wks. III. 82/1. The fellow was hanged, who being not choaked … did stirre his legges, and writhe and crumple his body.
1880. A. R. Wallace, Isl. Life, vi. 86. The effect … is to crumple the strata and force up certain areas in great contorted masses.
3. To crush into irregular creases; to ruffle.
1632. Massinger & Field, Fatal Dowry, IV. i. Plague on him! how he has crumpled our bands!
1711. Addison, Spect., No. 130, ¶ 2. Sir Roger … exposing his palm … they crumpled it into all shapes and diligently scanned every wrinkle.
1825. trans. De Genlis’ Mem., I. 175. He … crumpled my gowns, and even tore them.
1838. Lytton, Alice, I. xii. 104 ‘Don’t crumple that scarf, Jane.’
4. To wrinkle the smooth surface of; to corrugate, to crinkle.
1858. O. W. Holmes, Aut. Breakf.-t., 239. I could see her, as she rolled in, crumpling the water before her, weather-beaten, barnacled.
1860. Maury, Phys. Geog. Sea, ix. § 445. The Sunbeam has power to wrinkle and crumple the surface of the sea by alternate expansion and contraction of its waters.
5. To crush (together) in an irregularly folded state.
1678. Cudworth, Intell. Syst., 479. Huddled up, and as it were crouded and crumpled together.
1862. Sala, Seven Sons, I. xii. 307. She crumpled the cheque in her hand, and walked to the door.
b. To crumple up: to shrivel up by compression; to crush together in a contracted or compressed state.
1577. Googe, Heresbach’s Husb., IV. (1586), 185. The little Worme, or Grubbe … lieth crumpled up in the Coame.
1602. Marston, Antonio’s Rev., I. v. C 1 b. Are thy moyst entrals crumpled vp with griefe Of parching mischiefs?
a. 1682. Sir T. Browne, Plants Script., Tracts 34. Our Rose of Jericho … though crumpled and furdled up, yet, if infused in water, will swell and display its parts.
1861. Hughes, Tom Brown at Oxf., x. (1889), 91. He saw Drysdale crumple up the notes in his hand.
c. intr. (for refl.).
1858. Sat. Rev., VI. 90/2. Years crumple up into nothing, or extend to vast duration.
6. Applied to the action and accompanying sound of crushing under foot things moderately brittle; said also intr. of the things so crushed. Cf. CRUMP v.2
1861. N. A. Woods, Pr. Wales in Canada, 63. The dry, sultry ashes of the forest crumple under your feet.
1868. Hawthorne, Amer. Note-Bks. (1879), I. 92. Fallen leaves and acorns lying beneath; the footsteps crumple them in walking.
