Origin and history of crepe

also crumpit, "griddle-cooked biscuit or cake" originally made from buckwheat, 1690s, perhaps from crompid cake "wafer," literally "curled-up cake" (1382; Wyclif's rendering of Hebrew raqiq in Exodus xxix.23), from crompid, past participle of crumpen "curl up" (see crumple (v.) and crimp (v.)). Alternative etymology is from Celtic (compare Breton krampoez "thin, flat cake"). Scots dialect retains crumpie for any dry, brittle loaf or cake. Slang meaning "woman regarded as a sex object" is first recorded 1936.

"thin stuff made of silk finely crinkled," 1630s, Englished spelling of crepe (q.v.), which was itself borrowed into English late 18c., at first in a specialized, commercial sense. Black crape, from its somber and rough, unglossed appearance, was considered especially appropriate for mourning dress. Hence U.S. slang crape-hanger "pessimistic person, killjoy" (1909) from the notion of crape hung up as a sign of mourning.

also *ker-, Proto-Indo-European root meaning "to turn, bend."

It might form all or part of: arrange; circa; circadian; circle; circuit; circum-; circumcision; circumflex; circumnavigate; circumscribe; circumspect; circumstance; circus; cirque; corona; crepe; crest; crinoline; crisp; crown; curb; curvature; curve; derange; flounce (n.) "deep ruffle on the skirt of a dress;" krone; ring (n.1) "circular band;" ranch; range; ranger; rank (n.) "row, line series;" research; recherche; ridge; rink; rucksack; search; shrink.

It might also be the source of: Latin curvus "bent, curved," crispus "curly;" Old Church Slavonic kragu "circle;" perhaps Greek kirkos "ring," koronos "curved;" Old English hring "ring, small circlet."