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scrawl

noun

No English definition recorded for this entry.

L327291 on Wikidata ↗

verb

  1. write untidily
L332918 on Wikidata ↗

Wiktionary

Pronunciation: /skɹɔːl/ / /skɹoːl/ / /skɹɔl/

noun

Etymology: Possibly from Middle English scraulen (“to spread out one's limbs; sprawl”), itself an alteration of spraulen (“to sprawl”) or craulen, crawlen (“to crawl”). Alternatively, from scrall, a contraction of scrabble.

  1. Irregular, poor handwriting; especially, such writing that is illegible.
  2. A hastily or carelessly written note etc.
  3. Writing that lacks literary merit.
  4. A broken branch of a tree.
  5. The young of the dog-crab.

verb

Etymology: From Middle English scraulen (“to crawl”), itself an alteration of crawlen (“to crawl”). More at crawl.

  1. To creep; crawl; to move slowly, with difficulty, fearfully, or stealthily.

    we will scrape and scrawl, and catch and pull to us all that we may get

    When I saw him scrawlen on the plain, My heart aw flacker'd for't, I was sae fain.