subs. (colloquial).—1. A hard bite; a crushing blow; and (figuratively) a complete effect of tyranny; as verb. = to crush, to grind down, to squeeze; SCRUNCHER = a glutton.
1851–61. H. MAYHEW, London Labour and the London Poor, II. 566. I … SCRUNTCHED myself into a doorway, and the policeman passed four or five times without seeing on me.
1865. DICKENS, Our Mutual Friend, III. v. It’s the same … with the footmen. I have found out that you must either SCRUNCH them, or let them SCRUNCH you.
1869. H. B. STOWE, Oldtown Folks, xxxvii. We … shouted, ‘Hurrah for old Heber!’ as his load of magnificent oak … came SCRUNCHING into the yard.
1888. Fortnightly Review, N.S., xliii. 627. At each step there is a SCRUNCH of human bones.
