Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1952 (SND Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1808-1838, 1941
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CRANKUM, Cranc(r)um, n. Also crinkam. Gen. used in pl. [′krɑŋk(r)əm]
1. (1) In gen.: "something difficult to understand" (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B., crancrum(s), obsol.). Known to Lnk.11 1940 for Rxb. in form crankum.
(2) Specifically: "an odd-looking mechanical contrivance, etc." (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.).Rxb. 1808 A. Scott Poems 42:
A foal . . . Yok'd in some cursed whirligig Wi' odd-like crancrums.Rxb. 1941 (per Lnk.11):
An old farm-labourer, watching a tractor-plough at work: "Na, na; gie mei a horse an' a ploo — nane o' thae crankums for mei."
†2. A trick, conceit; a vagary, foolish notion. Also in Eng. dial. (E.D.D.).Sc. 1813 A. Cunningham Songs 80:
Let those who love sic crinkams take her.Lnk. 1838 J. Struthers Poetic Tales 78:
The clift, the stave, the semitone, An' fifths an' thirds, And ither crankums, set and shown, 'Mang fa la words.Ayr. 1822 Galt Sir A. Wylie II. xxvii.:
His contrariness is altogether of some misleart crancum about your caring nothing for him.
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"Crankum n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 19 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/crankum>
