Crisp

[Lat. crispus, Pr. crisp, cresp, Sp., Pg., & It. crespo.] 1. Formed into stiff curls or ringlets. For their crisp hair they shall have bald pates. Vires. 2. Characterized by windings or indentations. Ye nymphs called Naids, of the wandering brooks.... Leave your crisp channels. Shak. 3. Brittle; friable; breaking short, but with a slight resistance. The cakes at tea ate short and crisp. Goldsmith. Crisp foam flakes scud along the level sand. Tennyson. 4. Possessing a certain degree of firmness and strength. It [laurel] has been plucked nine months, and yet looks as hale and crisp as if it would last ninety years. Leigh Hunt. 5. Foaming; effervescing; sparkling; lively;— said of liquors.

v. t. [imp. & p. p. CRISPED (krĭspt); p. pr. & vb. n. CRISPING.] [Lat. crispare, from crispus, It. crespare, Pr. & Sp. crespar, O. Fr. cresper, N. Fr. créper, crisper. See supra.]

1Sense 1. To curl, twist, or form into ringlets, as the hair; to wreathe or interweave, as the branches of trees.

The lover with the myrtle sprays Adorns his crisped tresses. Drayton.

Along the crisped shades and bowers, Revels the spruce and jocund Spring. Milton.

2Sense 2. To wrinkle or curl into little undulations on the surface or edges.

From that sapphire fount the crisped brooks, Rolling on orient pearl and sands of gold, Ran nectar, visiting each plant. Milton.