Turned a handle or lever repeatedly to make something work; or (slang) became very excited or worked very hard.
From Middle Dutch 'crank' (a device for turning) or Old High German 'kranc'. The tool meaning came first, then extended to mean to work hard at something.
Before electric motors, 'cranking' was how you started most machines—hand-cranked radios, ice cream makers, and car engines, which is why 'cranked' became slang for being energized and ready to go.
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