cramp

• POS: Noun, Verb (transitive)

CIDE DICTIONARY

cramp, 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.].

•  That which confines or contracts; a restraint; a shackle; a hindrance.  [1913 Webster]

  "A narrow fortune is a cramp to a great mind."  [1913 Webster]

  "Crippling his pleasures with the cramp of fear."  [1913 Webster]
•  A device, usually of iron bent at the ends, used to hold together blocks of stone, timbers, etc.; a cramp iron.  [1913 Webster]
•  A rectangular frame, with a tightening screw, used for compressing the joints of framework, etc.  [1913 Webster]
•  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.  [1913 Webster]
•  A spasmodic and painful involuntary contraction of a muscle or muscles, as of the leg.  [1913 Webster]

  "The cramp, divers nights, gripeth him in his legs."  [1913 Webster]
•  A paralysis of certain muscles due to excessive use; as, writer's cramp; milker's cramp, etc.  [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

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.

cramp, v. t. 

•  To compress; to restrain from free action; to confine and contract; to hinder.  [1913 Webster]

  "The mind my be as much cramped by too much knowledge as by ignorance."  [1913 Webster]
•  To fasten or hold with, or as with, a cramp.  [1913 Webster]
•  to bind together; to unite.  [1913 Webster]

  "The . . . fabric of universal justic is well cramped and bolted together in all its parts."  [1913 Webster]
•  To form on a cramp; as, to cramp boot legs.  [1913 Webster]
•  To afflict with cramp.  [1913 Webster]

  "When the gout cramps my joints."  [1913 Webster]

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.

cramp, a. [See Cramp, n.].

 Knotty; difficult.  [1913 Webster]
"Care being taken not to add any of the cramp reasons for this opinion."  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

cramp, n. & v.
--n.
1 a a painful involuntary contraction of a muscle or muscles from the cold, exertion, etc. b = writer's cramp (see WRITER).
2 (also cramp-iron) a metal bar with bent ends for holding masonry etc. together.
3 a portable tool for holding two planks etc. together; a clamp.
4 a restraint.
--v.tr.
1 affect with cramp.
2 confine narrowly.
3 restrict (energies etc.).
4 (as cramped adj.) (of handwriting) small and difficult to read.
5 fasten with a cramp.

Idiom

cramp a person's style prevent a person from acting freely or naturally. cramp up confine narrowly.

Etymology

ME f. OF crampe f. MDu., MLG krampe, OHG krampfo f. adj. meaning 'bent': cf. CRIMP

THESAURUS

cramp

Jacksonian epilepsy, Rolandic epilepsy, abate, abbreviate, abdominal epilepsy, access, ache, aching, acquired epilepsy, activated epilepsy, acute pain, affect epilepsy, affix, akinetic epilepsy, anchor, angustifoliate, angustirostrate, angustisellate, angustiseptal, annex, apoplexy, arrest, arrestation, arrestment, attach, attack, attenuate, autonomic epilepsy, belay, beyond one, bite, blockage, blocking, blow, blunt, bollix, boring pain, bottle up, box, box in, box up, burden, cabin, cardiac epilepsy, casket, cement, charley horse, check, cinch, circumscribe, circumscribed, circumscription, clamp, clinch, clogging, cloister, clonic spasm, clonus, close, close-fitting, closet, closing up, closure, coarct, coffin, compact, complex, compress, concentrate, condense, confine, confined, confinement, consolidate, constipation, constraint, constrict, constricted, constriction, constringe, contract, convulsion, cortical epilepsy, crab, crabbed, cramped, cramping, cramps, crib, crick, crimp, cripple, crowded, cumber, cursive epilepsy, curtail, cut, damp, dampen, darting pain, deaden, debilitate, decrease, delay, detainment, detention, devitalize, difficult, distress, diurnal epilepsy, dolor, draw, draw in, draw together, dull, eclampsia, embarrass, encase, encumber, enervate, enfeeble, engraft, enmesh, ensnarl, entangle, entoil, entomb, entrammel, entrap, entwine, epilepsia, epilepsia gravior, epilepsia major, epilepsia minor, epilepsia mitior, epilepsia nutans, epilepsia tarda, epilepsy, epitasis, eviscerate, exhaust, extenuate, falling sickness, fasten, fetter, fit, fix, fixation, focal epilepsy, foot-dragging, foul up, frenzy, fulgurant pain, garbled, girdle pain, gnawing, graft, grand mal, grapple, grief, grip, griping, gruel, gum, gum up, hamper, hampering, hamstring, handicap, hard, hard to understand, haute mal, hem, hem in, hindering, hindrance, hitch, hobble, holdback, holdup, hurt, hysterical epilepsy, ictus, immure, impede, impediment, incapacious, incommodious, inhibition, injury, interference, interruption, intricate, involve, isthmian, isthmic, jumbled, jumping pain, keep from spreading, keep within bounds, kink, knit, knotty, lame, lancinating pain, larval epilepsy, laryngeal epilepsy, laryngospasm, latent epilepsy, lay low, lesion, let, lime, limit, limitation, limited, localize, lockjaw, louse up, lumber, make fast, matutinal epilepsy, meager, menstrual epilepsy, mitigate, moor, musicogenic epilepsy, myoclonous epilepsy, narrow, nasty blow, near, negativism, net, nip, nocturnal epilepsy, nuisance value, obfuscated, obscure, obscured, obstruction, obstructionism, occlusion, opposition, orgasm, overtechnical, pain, pang, paroxysm, passion, perplexed, petit mal, physiologic epilepsy, pinch, press down, prick, psychic epilepsy, psychomotor epilepsy, pucker, pucker up, purse, put to, qualification, qualify, queer, rattle, reduce, reflex epilepsy, repression, resistance, restraint, restrict, restricted, restriction, retardation, retardment, rotatoria, saddle with, sap, scant, scanty, screw up, secure, seizure, sensory epilepsy, serial epilepsy, set, set to, setback, sexual climax, shackle, shake, shake up, sharp pain, shock, shoot, shooting, shooting pain, shorten, slender, snafu, snarl, soften up, solidify, sore, sore spot, spasm, squeeze, stab, stabbing pain, stint, stitch, stoppage, strait, straiten, strangle, stranglehold, strangulate, stress, stress of life, stricture, stroke, stultification, suffering, suppression, tangle, tardy epilepsy, tender spot, tetanus, tetany, thrill, throes, thromboembolism, thrombosis, tight, tighten, toil, tonic epilepsy, tonic spasm, tormen, torsion spasm, tough, trammel, traumatic epilepsy, trice up, trim, trismus, tweak, twinge, twitch, ucinate epilepsy, unbrace, undermine, unman, unnerve, unstrengthen, unstring, visitation, weaken, weigh down, wound, wrench, wrinkle

ROGET THESAURUS

cramp

Connection

N connection, vinculum, link, connective, connection, junction, bond of union, copula, hyphen, intermedium, bracket, bridge, stepping-stone, isthmus, bond, tendon, tendril, fiber, cord, cordage, riband, ribbon, rope, guy, cable, line, halser, hawser, painter, moorings, wire, chain, string, fastener, fastening, tie, ligament, ligature, strap, tackle, rigging, standing rigging, running rigging, traces, harness, yoke, band ribband, bandage, brace, roller, fillet, inkle, with, withe, withy, thong, braid, girder, tiebeam, girth, girdle, cestus, garter, halter, noose, lasso, surcingle, knot, running knot, cabestro, cinch, lariat, legadero, oxreim, suspenders, pin, corking pin, nail, brad, tack, skewer, staple, corrugated fastener, clamp, U-clamp, C-clamp, cramp, cramp iron, ratchet, detent, larigo, pawl, terret, treenail, screw, button, buckle, clasp, hasp, hinge, hank, catch, latch, bolt, latchet, tag, tooth, hook, hook and eye, lock, holdfast, padlock, rivet, anchor, grappling iron, trennel, stake, post, cement, glue, gum, paste, size, wafer, solder, lute, putty, birdlime, mortar, stucco, plaster, grout, viscum, shackle, rein, prop.

Hindrance

VB hinder, impede, filibuster, impedite, embarrass, keep off, stave off, ward off, obviate, avert, antevert, turn aside, draw off, prevent, forefend, nip in the bud, retard, slacken, check, let, counteract, countercheck, preclude, debar, foreclose, estop, inhibit, shackle, restrict, obstruct, stop, stay, bar, bolt, lock, block, block up, choke off, belay, barricade, block the way, bar the way, stop the way, forelay, dam up, put on the brake, scotch the wheel, lock the wheel, put a spoke in the wheel, put a stop to, traverse, contravene, interrupt, intercept, oppose, hedge in, hedge round, cut off, inerclude, interpose, interfere, intermeddle, cramp, hamper, clog, clog the wheels, cumber, encumber, incumber, handicap, choke, saddle with, load with, overload, lay, lumber, trammel, tie one's hands, put to inconvenience, incommode, discommode, discompose, hustle, corner, drive into a corner, run foul of, fall foul of, cross the path of, break in upon, thwart, frustrate, disconcert, balk, foil, faze, feaze, feeze, baffle, snub, override, circumvent, defeat, spike guns, spoil, mar, clip the wings of, cripple, put an extinguisher on, damp, dishearten, discountenance, throw cold water on, spoil sport, lay a wet blanket, throw a wet blanket on, cut the ground from under one, take the wind out of one's sails, undermine, be in the way of, stand in the way of, act as a drag, hang like a millstone round one's neck.

Impotence

VB be impotent, not have a leg to stand on, vouloir rompre l'anguille au genou, vouloir prendre la lune avec les dents, collapse, faint, swoon, fall into a swoon, drop, go by the board, go by the wayside, go up in smoke, end in smoke, render powerless, deprive of power, disable, disenable, disarm, incapacitate, disqualify, unfit, invalidate, deaden, cramp, tie the hands, double up, prostrate, paralyze, muzzle, cripple, becripple, maim, lame, hamstring, draw the teeth of, throttle, strangle, garrotte, garrote, ratten, silence, sprain, clip the wings of, put hors de combat, spike the guns, take the wind out of one's sails, scotch the snake, put a spoke in one's wheel, break the neck, break the back, unhinge, unfit, put out of gear, unman, unnerve, enervate, emasculate, castrate, geld, alter, neuter, sterilize, fix, shatter, exhaust, weaken.

Weakness

VB be weak, drop, crumble, give way, totter, tremble, shake, halt, limp, fade, languish, decline, flag, fail, have one leg in the grave, render weak, weaken, enfeeble, debilitate, shake, deprive of strength, relax, enervate, eviscerate, unbrace, unnerve, cripple, unman, cramp, reduce, sprain, strain, blunt the edge of, dilute, impoverish, decimate, extenuate, reduce in strength, reduce the strength of, mettre de l'eau dans son vin.

Littleness

N littleness, smallness, exiguity, inextension, parvitude, parvity, duodecimo, Elzevir edition, epitome, microcosm, rudiment, vanishing point, thinness, dwarf, pygmy, pigmy, Liliputian, chit, pigwidgeon, urchin, elf, atomy, dandiprat, doll, puppet, Tom Thumb, Hop-o'-my-thumb, manikin, mannikin, homunculus, dapperling, cock-sparrow, animalcule, monad, mite, insect, emmet, fly, midge, gnat, shrimp, minnow, worm, maggot, entozoon, bacteria, infusoria, microzoa, phytozoaria, microbe, grub, tit, tomtit, runt, mouse, small fry, millet seed, mustard seed, barleycorn, pebble, grain of sand, molehill, button, bubble, point, atom, fragment, powder, point of a pin, mathematical point, minutiae, micrometer, vernier, scale, microphotography, photomicrography, micrography, photomicrograph, microphotograph, microscopy, microscope (optical instruments), little, small, minute, diminutive, microscopic, microzoal, inconsiderable, exiguous, puny, tiny, wee, petty, minikin, miniature, pygmy, pigmy, elfin, undersized, dwarf, dwarfed, dwarfish, spare, stunted, limited, cramp, cramped, pollard, Liliputian, dapper, pocket, portative, portable, duodecimo, dumpy, squat, short, impalpable, intangible, evanescent, imperceptible, invisible, inappreciable, insignificant, inconsiderable, trivial, infinitesimal, homoeopathic, atomic, subatomic, corpuscular, molecular, rudimentary, rudimental, embryonic, vestigial, weazen, scant, scraggy, scrubby, thin, granular, shrunk, brevipennate, in a small compass, in a nutshell, on a small scale, minutely, microscopically.

Contraction

VB become small, become smaller, lessen, decrease, grow less, dwindle, shrink, contract, narrow, shrivel, collapse, wither, lose flesh, wizen, fall away, waste, wane, ebb, decay, be smaller than, fall short of, not come up to, render smaller, lessen, diminish, contract, draw in, narrow, coarctate, boil down, constrict, constringe, condense, compress, squeeze, corrugate, crimp, crunch, crush, crumple up, warp, purse up, pack, squeeze, stow, pinch, tighten, strangle, cramp, dwarf, bedwarf, shorten, circumscribe, restrain, (subtraction) 38 abrade, pare, reduce, attenuate, rub down, scrape, file, file down, grind, grind down, chip, shave, shear, wear down.

Physical Pain

N physical pain, pain, suffering, sufferance, suffrance, bodily pain, physical pain, bodily suffering, physical suffering, body pain, mental suffering, dolour, ache, aching, smart, shoot, shooting, twinge, twitch, gripe, headache, stomach ache, heartburn, angina, angina pectoris, hurt, cut, sore, soreness, discomfort, malaise, cephalalgia, earache, gout, ischiagra, lumbago, neuralgia, odontalgia, otalgia, podagra, rheumatism, sciatica, tic douloureux, toothache, tormina, torticollis, spasm, cramp, nightmare, ephialtes, crick, stitch, thrill, convulsion, throe, throb, pang, colic, kink, sharp pain, piercing pain, throbbing pain, shooting pain, sting, gnawing pain, burning pain, excruciating pain, anguish, agony, torment, torture, rack, cruciation, crucifixion, martyrdom, toad under a harrow, vivisection, in pain, in a state of pain, pained, gouty, podagric, torminous, painful, aching, sore, raw, Special Sensation (1) Touch.