Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Crank \Crank\ (kr?nk), n. [OE. cranke; akin to E. cringe,
   cringle, crinkle, and to crank, a., the root meaning,
   probably, ``to turn, twist.'' See {Cringe}.]
   1. (Mach.) A bent portion of an axle, or shaft, or an arm
      keyed at right angles to the end of a shaft, by which
      motion is imparted to or received from it; also used to
      change circular into reciprocating motion, or
      reciprocating into circular motion. See {Bell crank}.

   2. Any bend, turn, or winding, as of a passage.

            So many turning cranks these have, so many crooks.
                                                  --Spenser.

Crank \Crank\ (kr?nk), a. [AS. cranc weak; akin to Icel. krangr,
   D. & G. krank sick, weak (cf. D. krengen to careen). Cf.
   {Crank}, n.]
   1. Sick; infirm. [Prov. Eng.]

   2. (Naut.) Liable to careen or be overset, as a ship when she
      is too narrow, or has not sufficient ballast, or is loaded
      too high, to carry full sail.

   3. Full of spirit; brisk; lively; sprightly; overconfident;
      opinionated.

            He who was, a little before, bedrid, . . . was now
            crank and lusty.                      --Udall.

            If you strong electioners did not think you were
            among the elect, you would not be so crank about it.
                                                  --Mrs. Stowe.

Crank \Crank\, v. i. [See {Crank}, n.]
   To run with a winding course; to double; to crook; to wind
   and turn.

         See how this river comes me cranking in. --Shak.

Source : WordNet®

crank
     n 1: a bad-tempered person [syn: {grouch}, {grump}, {churl}, {crosspatch}]
     2: a whimsically eccentric person [syn: {crackpot}, {nut}, {nut
        case}, {nutcase}, {fruitcake}, {screwball}]
     3: amphetamine used in the form of a crystalline hydrochloride;
        used as a stimulant to the nervous system and as an
        appetite suppressant [syn: {methamphetamine}, {methamphetamine
        hydrochloride}, {Methedrine}, {meth}, {deoxyephedrine}, {chalk},
         {chicken feed}, {glass}, {ice}, {shabu}, {trash}]
     4: a hand tool consisting of a rotating shaft with parallel
        handle [syn: {starter}]

crank
     v 1: travel along a zigzag path; "The river zigzags through the
          countryside" [syn: {zigzag}]
     2: start by cranking; "crank up the engine" [syn: {crank up}]
     3: rotate with a crank [syn: {crank up}]
     4: fasten with a crank
     5: bend into the shape of a crank

crank
     adj : (used of boats) inclined to heel over easily under sail
           [syn: {cranky}, {tender}, {tippy}]

Source : Free On-Line Dictionary of Computing

crank
     
        (Automotive slang) Verb used to describe the performance of a
        machine, especially sustained performance.  "This box cranks
        (or, cranks at) about 6 megaflops, with a burst mode of twice
        that on vectorised operations."
     
        [{Jargon File}]
     
        (1994-12-01)