crank, cranky

Use this forum to suggest Good Words for Professor Beard.
William Hupy
Senior Lexiterian
Posts: 611
Joined: Fri Apr 15, 2011 2:14 pm

crank, cranky

Postby William Hupy » Sat Dec 21, 2013 9:54 am

I would be willing to bet a whole dollar that crank has its origin in the German "krank" for sick. How it evolved into an ill tempered person is easily discerned. I wonder if the mechanical type of crank is of the same heritage.
William A. Hupy

eberntson
Lexiterian
Posts: 457
Joined: Thu Feb 10, 2005 10:48 am
Location: Cambridge, Mass
Contact:

Re: crank, cranky

Postby eberntson » Fri Jan 10, 2014 11:48 pm

Not just a ill tempered old codger, let's not forget "crank calls". Probably inspired by folks who have to much time on their hands and niggle the authorities with little stuff of not much import.

E
EBERNTSON
Fear less, hope more;
eat less, chew more;
whine less, breathe more;
talk less, say more,
and all good things will be yours.
--R. Burns

Philip Hudson
Great Grand Panjandrum
Posts: 2784
Joined: Thu Feb 23, 2006 4:41 am
Location: Texas

Re: crank, cranky

Postby Philip Hudson » Sat Jan 11, 2014 3:48 am

www.Etymonline.com does not give you much to go on, William. Crank has meant twisted or turned for eons. There is some support for a Dutch word similar to the German “krank”, meaning ill. IK can find no modern Dutch word like that. It is not convincing to me.

I have been called cranky on many occasions.
It is dark at night, but the Sun will come up and then we can see.

Perry Lassiter
Great Grand Panjandrum
Posts: 3333
Joined: Wed Jan 03, 2007 12:41 pm
Location: RUSTON, LA
Contact:

Re: crank, cranky

Postby Perry Lassiter » Sat Jan 11, 2014 4:14 pm

Occasionally, I still hear people talking about cranking up the car.
pl

User avatar
Slava
Great Grand Panjandrum
Posts: 8599
Joined: Thu Sep 28, 2006 9:31 am
Location: Finger Lakes, NY

Re: crank, cranky

Postby Slava » Sat Jan 11, 2014 6:19 pm

Occasionally, I still hear people talking about cranking up the car.
Or, in mid-summer: "When I get home, I'm cranking up the AC!"

Or the reverse in the middle of a polar vortex.
Life is like playing chess with chessmen who each have thoughts and feelings and motives of their own.


Return to “Good Word Suggestions”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 1 guest