Now the fowler . . . treads the crimp earth. --J.
Philips.
2. Weak; inconsistent; contradictory. [R.]
The evidance is crimp; the witnesses swear backward
and forward, and contradict themselves. --Arbuthnot.
The comely hostess in a crimped cap. --W. Irving.
2. To pinch and hold; to seize.
3. Hence, to entrap into the military or naval service; as,
to crimp seamen.
Coaxing and courting with intent to crimp him.
--Carlyle.
4. (Cookery) To cause to contract, or to render more crisp,
as the flesh of a fish, by gashing it, when living, with a
knife; as, to crimp skate, etc.
{Crimping house}, a low lodging house, into which men are
decoyed and plied with drink, to induce them to ship or
enlist as sailors or soldiers.
{Crimping iron}.
(a) An iron instrument for crimping and curling the hair.
(b) A crimping machine.
{Crimping machine}, a machine with fluted rollers or with
dies, for crimping ruffles leather, iron, etc.
{Crimping pin}, an instrument for crimping or puckering the
border of a lady's cap.
2. One who decoys or entraps men into the military or naval
service. -- Marryat.
3. A keeper of a low lodging house where sailors and
emigrants are entrapped and fleeced.
4. Hair which has been crimped; -- usually in pl.
5. A game at cards. [Obs.] --B. Jonson.
{Boot crimp}. See under {Boot}.