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cramp

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cramp

 

  5  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Cramp  \Cramp\,  n.  (Med.) 
  A  paralysis  of  certain  muscles  due  to  excessive  use  as 
  writer's  cramp;  milker's  cramp,  etc 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Cramp  \Cramp\,  v.  t.  [imp.  &  p.  p.  {Cramped}  (kr?mt;  215);  p. 
  pr  &  vb  n.  {Cramping}.] 
  1.  To  compress;  to  restrain  from  free  action  to  confine  and 
  contract;  to  hinder. 
 
  The  mind  my  be  as  much  cramped  by  too  much  knowledge 
  as  by  ignorance.  --Layard. 
 
  2.  To  fasten  or  hold  with  or  as  with  a  cramp. 
 
  3.  Hence  to  bind  together;  to  unite. 
 
  The  .  .  .  fabric  of  universal  justic  is  well  cramped 
  and  bolted  together  in  all  its  parts  --Burke. 
 
  4.  To  form  on  a  cramp;  as  to  cramp  boot  legs. 
 
  5.  To  afflict  with  cramp. 
 
  When  the  gout  cramps  my  joints.  --Ford. 
 
  {To  cramp  the  wheels  of  wagon},  to  turn  the  front  wheels  out 
  of  line  with  the  hind  wheels,  so  that  one  of  them  shall  be 
  against  the  body  of  the  wagon. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Cramp  \Cramp\  (kr[a^]mp),  n.  [OE.  crampe,  craumpe  akin  to  D.  & 
  Sw  kramp,  Dan.  krampe,  G.  krampf  (whence  F.  crampe),  Icel. 
  krappr  strait,  narrow,  and  to  E.  crimp,  crumple;  cf  cram. 
  See  {Grape}.] 
  1.  That  which  confines  or  contracts;  a  restraint;  a  shackle; 
  a  hindrance. 
 
  A  narrow  fortune  is  a  cramp  to  a  great  mind. 
  --L'Estrange. 
 
  Crippling  his  pleasures  with  the  cramp  of  fear. 
  --Cowper. 
 
  2.  (Masonry)  A  device,  usually  of  iron  bent  at  the  ends  used 
  to  hold  together  blocks  of  stone,  timbers,  etc.;  a  cramp 
  iron. 
 
  3.  (Carp.)  A  rectangular  frame,  with  a  tightening  screw,  used 
  for  compressing  the  joints  of  framework,  etc 
 
  4.  A  piece  of  wood  having  a  curve  corresponding  to  that  of 
  the  upper  part  of  the  instep,  on  which  the  upper  leather 
  of  a  boot  is  stretched  to  give  it  the  requisite  shape. 
 
  5.  (Med.)  A  spasmodic  and  painful  involuntary  contraction  of 
  a  muscle  or  muscles,  as  of  the  leg. 
 
  The  cramp,  divers  nights,  gripeth  him  in  his  legs. 
  --Sir  T.  More 
 
  {Cramp  bone},  the  patella  of  a  sheep;  --  formerly  used  as  a 
  charm  for  the  cramp.  --Halliwell.  ``He  could  turn  cramp 
  bones  into  chess  men.''  --Dickens. 
 
  {Cramp  ring},  a  ring  formerly  supposed  to  have  virtue  in 
  averting  or  curing  cramp,  as  having  been  consecrated  by 
  one  of  the  kings  of  England  on  Good  Friday. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Cramp  \Cramp\,  a.  [See  {Cramp},  n.] 
  Knotty;  difficult.  [R.] 
 
  Care  being  taken  not  to  add  any  of  the  cramp  reasons 
  for  this  opinion.  --Coleridge. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  cramp 
  n  1:  a  painful  and  involuntary  muscular  contraction  [syn:  {spasm}] 
  2:  a  clamp  for  holding  pieces  of  wood  together  while  they  are 
  glued 
  3:  a  strip  of  metal  with  ends  bent  at  right  angles;  used  to 
  hold  masonry  together  [syn:  {cramp  iron}] 
  v  1:  secure  with  a  cramp 
  2:  prevent  the  progress  or  free  movement  of  "He  was  hampered 
  in  his  efforts  by  the  bad  weather"  [syn:  {hamper},  {halter}]




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