What does runkle mean?
A runkle is a wrinkle, crease, or rumple in something such as fabric, paper, or skin. The word may sound familiar to readers of older English literature or regional writing, but it is now uncommon in standard contemporary usage. “Wrinkle” is the usual modern term for a line or fold on a surface, while “crease” often suggests a sharper or more deliberate fold; “runkle” can convey the same basic idea without clearly distinguishing among those nuances. It occurs in descriptions of rumpled cloth, aged skin, and other visibly uneven or folded surfaces. Although the term has little place in everyday modern English, it is useful as a precise historical or dialectal synonym. In most present-day writing, using “wrinkle” or “crease” would sound more natural and immediately understandable.
nounA wrinkle, crease, or rumple, especially in a material or on the skin.
- A wrinkle or crease in a material or on the skin.
"A faint runkle appeared at the corner of her mouth."
"She smoothed the runkles out of the linen."
"Age had left a deep runkle across his forehead."
The plural is used in the usual way, though the headword itself is rare.
"Small runkles formed along the edge of the paper."
Runkle belongs to a small family of old English words for wrinkles that has largely been replaced by “wrinkle.”
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does runkle come from?
The exact origin of “runkle” is uncertain. It is an old and now-rare English word that has survived mainly in dialect and literary usage, alongside the more familiar modern form “wrinkle.”
How runkle is actually used
This is a rare, chiefly old or dialectal word. In modern English, “wrinkle” or “crease” is normally preferred.