crimping the process of gashing the flesh of fish soon after it has been caught and before rigor mortis sets in, in order to make it contract and become firmer. The basic meaning of the verb to crimp is to contract, and gashing is merely the means to this end; but in the course of time means and end became confused and people thought that crimp meant gash.
The term dates back to the end of the 17th century and the process was widely used in the 19th century but has largely fallen into disuse.
