crinkum-crankum

noun

crin·​kum-cran·​kum

¦kriŋkəm¦kraŋkəm

plural -s

archaic

: something full of twists and turns : a thing fancifully or excessively intricate and elaborate

Word History

Etymology

alteration (influenced by Latin nouns ending in -um) of crinkle-crankle

First Known Use

1670, in the meaning defined above

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