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Crank vs Frank - What's the difference?

crank | frank |

In obsolete terms the difference between crank and frank

is that crank is a sick person; an invalid while frank is liberal; generous; profuse.

As adjectives the difference between crank and frank

is that crank is strange, weird, odd while frank is honest, especially in an manner that seems slightly blunt; candid; not reserved or disguised.

As nouns the difference between crank and frank

is that crank is a bent piece of an axle or shaft, or an attached arm perpendicular, or nearly so, to the end of a shaft or wheel, used to impart a rotation to a wheel or other mechanical device; also used to change circular into reciprocating motion, or reciprocating into circular motion while frank is free postage, a right exercised by governments (usually with definite article).

As verbs the difference between crank and frank

is that crank is to turn by means of a crank while frank is to place a frank on an envelope.

As a proper noun Frank is

a given name derived from Germanic.

crank

English

Adjective

(er)
  • (slang) strange, weird, odd
  • sick; unwell; infirm
  • (nautical, of a ship) Liable to capsize because of poorly stowed cargo or insufficient ballast
  • Full of spirit; brisk; lively; sprightly; overconfident; opinionated.
  • * Udall
  • He who was, a little before, bedrid, was now crank and lusty.
  • * Mrs. Stowe
  • If you strong electioners did not think you were among the elect, you would not be so crank about it.

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A bent piece of an axle or shaft, or an attached arm perpendicular, or nearly so, to the end of a shaft or wheel, used to impart a rotation to a wheel or other mechanical device; also used to change circular into reciprocating motion, or reciprocating into circular motion.(rfex)
  • The act of converting power into motion, by turning a crankshaft.
  • Yes, a crank was all it needed to start .
  • (archaic) Any bend, turn, or winding, as of a passage.
  • * (rfdate) Spenser:
  • So many turning cranks these have, so many crooks.
  • (informal) An ill-tempered or nasty person
  • Billy-Bob is a nasty old crank ! He chased my cat away.
  • A twist or turn of the mind; caprice; whim; crotchet; also, a fit of temper or passion.
  • * Carlyle
  • Violent of temper; subject to sudden cranks .
  • (informal, British, dated in US) A person who is considered strange or odd by others. They may behave in unconventional ways.
  • John is a crank because he talks to himself .
  • * 1882 January 14, in Pall Mall Gazette :
  • Persons whom the Americans since Guiteau's trial have begun to designate as ‘cranks’ —that is to say, persons of disordered mind, in whom the itch of notoriety supplies the lack of any higher ambition.
  • (informal) An advocate of a pseudoscience movement.
  • That crank next door thinks he's created cold fusion in his garage.
  • (US, slang) methamphetamine.
  • Danny got abscesses from shooting all that bathtub crank .
  • (rare) A twist or turn in speech; a conceit consisting in a change of the form or meaning of a word.
  • * (rfdate) Milton:
  • Quips, and cranks , and wanton wiles.
  • (obsolete) A sick person; an invalid.
  • * Burton
  • Thou art a counterfeit crank , a cheater.
  • (slang) penis.
  • * 2013 , Reggie Chesterfield, Scoundrel (page 57)
  • It was going to be hard not to blow with a girl like her sucking on his crank .

    Synonyms

    * See also .

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To turn by means of a crank .
  • Motorists had to crank their engine by hand.
  • To turn a crank .
  • He's been cranking all day and yet it refuses to crank.
  • To turn.
  • He's been cranking all day and yet it refuses to crank .
  • To cause to spin via other means, as though turned by a crank.
  • I turn the key and crank the engine; yet it doesn't turn over
    Crank it up!
  • To act in a cranky manner; to behave unreasonably and irritably, especially through complaining.
  • Quit cranking about your spilt milk!
  • To be running at a high level of output or effort.
  • By one hour into the shift, the boys were really cranking .
  • *
  • *
  • *
  • (dated) To run with a winding course; to double; to crook; to wind and turn.
  • * (rfdate) :
  • See how this river comes me cranking in.

    Derived terms

    * crank axle * crank call * crankcase * crank out * crankpin * crank pin * crank shaft * crankstart * crank start * crank up * crank wheel * cranky * turn someone's crank

    frank

    English

    (wikipedia frank)

    Etymology 1

    From (etyl) , in turn from the name of an early Germanic confederation, the Franks .

    Adjective

    (er)
  • honest, especially in an manner that seems slightly blunt; candid; not reserved or disguised.
  • May I be frank with you?
  • (medicine) unmistakable, clinically obvious, self-evident
  • The research probes whether treating pre-diabetes with metformin can prevent progression to frank diabetes.
  • (obsolete) Unbounded by restrictions, limitations, etc.; free.
  • * Spenser
  • It is of frank gift.
  • (obsolete) Liberal; generous; profuse.
  • * L'Estrange
  • Frank of civilities that cost them nothing.
  • (obsolete, derogatory) Unrestrained; loose; licentious.
  • (Spenser)

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (uncountable) Free postage, a right exercised by governments (usually with definite article).
  • * Cowper
  • I have said so much, that, if I had not a frank , I must burn my letter and begin again.
  • (countable) The notice on an envelope where a stamp would normally be found.
  • Verb

    (en verb)
  • To place a frank on an envelope.
  • * 1811 , Jane Austen, Sense and Sensibility , chapter 20
  • It will be so ridiculous to see all his letters directed to him with an M.P.—But do you know, he says, he will never frank for me?
  • To exempt from charge for postage, as a letter, package, or packet, etc.
  • To send by public conveyance free of expense.
  • (Charles Dickens)

    Etymology 2

    Shortened form of frankfurter.

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A hot dog or sausage.
  • Buy a package of franks for the barbecue.
  • * {{quote-video
  • , year = 1978 , title = , people = (Jackie Cooper) , role = (Perry White) , passage = I want the name of this flying whatchamacallit to go with the Daily Planet like bacon and eggs, franks and beans, death and taxes, politics and corruption! }}
    Synonyms
    * frankfurt * frankfurter
    See also
    * sav * savaloy

    Etymology 3

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (UK) the grey heron.
  • Etymology 4

    (etyl) franc.

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A pigsty.
  • Verb

    (en verb)
  • To shut up in a frank or sty; to pen up; hence, to cram; to fatten.
  • (Shakespeare)
    ----