To wrinkle, crease, or compress into a wavy pattern; wrinkles or creases in a fabric or surface.
From 'crimp' (to compress or fold) plus the '-le' suffix indicating repeated or intensive action. The word 'crimp' itself derives from Middle Dutch 'crimpen' meaning to shrink or contract.
A crimple is technically different from a crinkle—crimples are more deliberate, controlled waves (like in crimped hair), while crinkles are random folds. Yet people use them interchangeably, showing how synonym pairs gradually merge in language.
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