crick

Meanings

Noun

• A painful muscular cramp or spasm of some part of the body, as of the neck or back, making it difficult to move the part affected. (Compare catch.)
• A small jackscrew.
• Alternative of creek
• The creaking of a door, or a noise resembling it.

Verb

• To develop a crick (cramp, spasm).
• To cause to develop a crick; to create a crick in.
• To twist, bend, or contort, especially in a way that produces strain.

Origin

• From Middle English crike ("muscular spasm of the neck"), attested since the 1400s. Likely related to Old Norse kriki ("bend; nook"), whence also crick and creek.
• See creek.
• See creak.