Page "Crank (person)" Paragraph 1

Common synonyms for " crank " include crackpot and kook.

A crank differs from a fanatic in that the subject of the fanatic's obsession is either not necessarily widely regarded as wrong or not necessarily a " fringe " belief.

Similarly, the word quack is reserved for someone who promotes a medical remedy or practice that is widely considered to be ineffective ; this term however does not imply any deep belief in the idea or product they are attempting to sell.

Crank may also refer to an ill-tempered individual or one who is in a bad mood, but that usage is not the subject of this article.