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Crank
Posted by ESC on March 19, 2004
In Reply to: Cranky posted by Lotg on March 19, 2004
: : fyi
: : I have heard [also believe] that the term to be "cranky" comes from when automobiles required a "crank" to turn the engine of the automobile in order to start the car...thus...when one was unable to start the car by cranking it, they became "cranky"
: Yip - sounds like me tonight! And I remember it always made my dad cranky when he couldn't crank the car enough to start (God I'm old, fancy remembering that - he he!!! But aren't I lucky too, that I can!)
Merriam-Webster online says that "cranky" comes from "crank." Crank -- Etymology: Middle English cranke, from Old English cranc- (as in crancstæf, a weaving instrument); probably akin to Middle High German krank weak, sick.
