Obs. [Cf. G. krümmling, dial. krumling, krümpling, crooked stick, crooked man, etc.: see CRUMB a., CRUMP a. But in the sb. sense 2, the word appears to be immediately associated with crumple vb. or sb.]
A. sb. 1. A crooked, or deformed person.
a. 1825. Forby, Voc. E. Anglia, Crumplin, a diminutive and deformed person.
2. A small dwarfed and shrivelled apple, cucumber, etc.: see quots.
1658. Evelyn, Fr. Gard. (1675), 268. Putting each sort in a basket apart: I speak not here of the smallest, and the crumplings. Ibid. (1693), De la Quint. Compl. Gard., Dict., Crumpling, or Guerkins are small Cucumbers to pickle, called in French Cornichons.
a. 1700. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, Crumplings, wrinkled Codlings, usually the least, but sweetest.
1710. Brit. Apollo, III. 3/1. Ginger-Bread Babies and Crumplins.
a. 1825. Forby, Voc. E. Anglia, Crumplin, a diminutive and mis-shapen apple.
1888. W. Somerset Word-bk., Crumpling, an apple which does not mature, but which shrivels on the tree.
B. adj. ? Crooked, shrivelled, deformed.
1666. J. Smith, Old Age, 175. The Locust and Grashopper are both of them hard, crusty, cragged, crumpling Creatures.
1755. Carte, Hist. Eng., IV. 595. A little old crumpling fellow, who made his fires, was the best companion he had.
