crimp

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   to press, pinch, or fold something into small ridges, waves, or tight curls

   She used heated tongs to crimp the loose strands of hair.

2. 2
   noun

   a small pressed ridge, fold, or wave made by crimping

   Each crimp in the metal tube strengthened the joint.

3. 3
   verb

   to restrict, hinder, or reduce the effectiveness of something

   A shortage of materials could crimp production for several weeks.

From Middle English crimpen, 'to contract or draw together,' related to Middle Dutch crimpen, 'to shrink.' The physical idea of pressing into folds later produced the figurative sense 'restrict or hamper.'

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