The act of crying and wanking (masturbation)at the same time.
This term comes from 'Ye Olde English' originating from the reign of King Henry VIII and his desperation in not being able to produce a male heir to carry on the Tudor dynasty. It was discovered by a lowly servant who stumbled upon the King in floods of tears and covered in copious amounts of semen. This information was a state secret until 2007 when it was released under Freedom of Information Act.

'Last night I watched Hugh Grant in Love Actually it was a performance of a lifetime it touched me in so many ways I just had to have a crank'
'Every since I heard my Mum and Dad had died in a horrible dolphin accident I've had to crank myself to sleep every night'
'Late at night after his girlfriend had gone to sleep Steven Peters Matthews would slowly crank over her delicate jawline'

Mohinder: Hey guys do you all wanna go to the beach and catch some waves and then afterwards we can go to Chad's house and have communal crank'
Bruce: That sounds totally crazy sick Mohinder I'll give Chuck a ring he loves cranking'

'Man I just watched Schindler's List, it was like totally sad but that little girl in the red coat was so hot i just had to have a crank'.

'The other day I was having a glorious wank in the woods when I saw a cute bunny rabbit get brutally mutilated by a hedgehog it turned my once in a lifetime wanking experience into a mournful cranking session'

Cranking by Malcom McCroat February 13, 2009

Cranking

To be simultaneously engaged in the acts of crying and wanking.

If his funds were running particularly low, Junkie Jim could often be found cranking at the local sperm-bank.

Cranking by Johnny Darke December 16, 2008

Cranking

To engage in dance with companions.

My friends and I were cranking in their car the other day to some Chief Keef.

Cranking by Maztotheula April 29, 2015

Cranking

To be simultaneously engaged in the act of crying and wanking.

Upon realising that his friend would not be visiting him, Jack was unable to help himself from a day of heavy cranking.

Cranking by CortaEsaCiudad March 2, 2015

Cranking

To cry and wank at the same time. Something that picks your spirits up if you're feeling low.

John: Wow, Dave took his grandma's death very well, look at that smile!
George: Nah, he's just been cranking in the toilets.

Cranking by BSF0708 April 2, 2008

Cranking

The practice of driving around residential areas (usually between the hours of 12-5 am), pulling up beside cars parked on the side of the street, and checking to see if they have been locked. If not, the car is stripped of anything inside. If so, the thieves move on. Cranking can also involve petty vandalism, leaving of handbrake off in a robbed car etc etc.
This practice originated in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne, Victoria, and has spread throughout the state.

Dude, check out this sweet GPS I got out cranking last night!

Cranking by McDeath January 18, 2009