Etymology: Probably < crinkle v.¹ Compare also Middle Dutch crinkel and related words cited at cringle n.; it is very unlikely that these have no connection with the English word, but the nature and date of any connection is less clear; the English word may show a borrowing < the Middle Dutch word or one of its cognates (compare discussion at crinkle v.¹). It is also possible that the English word may simply show a variant of cringle n. Compare crinkle-crankle n., crankle n.With sense A. 2 compare cringle n., of which this sense may simply show a variant. In sense A. 3 apparently coined by Murphy (see quot. 1920 at sense A. 3).

Etymology: < crinkle v.²

Etymology: Perhaps partly the reflex of a derivative formation < the stem of Old English crincan, variant of cringan (see cringe v.) + -le suffix 3, and partly the reflex of a derivative formation < an ablaut variant (with stem vowel a ) < the same Germanic base (compare cringe v., and also crank n.¹). However, compare also Middle Dutch crinkelen and related words cited at cringle n.; it is very likely that these have some connection with the English word, but the date and nature of any connection is less certain; it is possible that the English word could show a borrowing < the Middle Dutch word or one of its cognates. In spite of the chronology, it is also possible that crinkle n.¹ may actually have been the earlier word (and perhaps itself a borrowing), and that crinkle v.¹ is derived from it; the earliest examples below could indeed alternatively be interpreted as showing an adjective derived < crinkle n.¹ Compare later crink v.², crink n., and also crankle v. In later use perhaps also influenced by association with crink v.¹, crinkle v.²

Etymology: < crink v.¹ + -le suffix. Compare earlier crinkle v.¹ Compare also crickle v.