Crinklies

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Small wrinkles or folds typically found on soft materials or skin ; minor creases or ridges appearing on surfaces due to bending or compression ; slight corrugations or puckers that give a textured or uneven appearance to an object
2. Tiny, thin lines or grooves caused by crumpling or folding ; subtle undulations or wavy marks on a smooth surface ; faint, irregular indentations that make an area look corrugated or ruffled
3. Fine, narrow creases or ripples often forming from movement or pressure ; delicate folds or crimps that create a slightly rumpled effect ; gentle, small-scale distortions adding texture or irregularity to a material or surface

Etymology: The plural "crinklies" comes from "crinkly," an adjective built from "crinkle," meaning to form small wrinkles or folds. "Crinkle" is probably Germanic in origin, and its sound suggests the crisp rustle of crumpled paper or thin fabric. The sense you've given, fine creases and gentle rumpling in a material, is the literal core of the family. The noun use is informal British slang for elderly people, playing on the wrinkled skin of old age. The slang is recent and jocular rather than old, and its exact first recorded date is uncertain. Its surface-texture sense is the more established one, so the plural form most likely refers to the many small creases that a surface or a person's face might show.

Synonyms: wrinkles, creases, folds, ridges

Antonyms: smoothness, flatness