Crankcase
/ˈkræŋk.keɪs/noun
The housing that encloses a crankshaft in an engine.
Did you know?The first element, crank, goes back to a word for something bent or twisted, while case comes from Latin for a container or enclosure, making the whole word a very literal machine-housing term.
Etymological Timeline
Old English
OE
cranc
“Bending, twisting, or a bend; the source behind the idea of a crooked turn.”
Middle English
ME
cranke
“A bend or a twisted device; later used for a rotating arm or handle.”
Late Latin
Latin
capsa
“A box, chest, or container.”
17th Century
English
crank + case
“A mechanical crank enclosed in a protective housing.”
19th Century
English
crankcase
“The enclosed housing of an engine’s crankshaft.”