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scrawl - 7 dictionary results

scrawl

  [skrawl]
Use scrawl in a Sentence
–verb (used with object)
1. to write or draw in a sprawling, awkward manner: He scrawled his name hastily across the blackboard.
–verb (used without object)
2. to write awkwardly, carelessly, or illegibly.
–noun
3. awkward, careless, or illegible handwriting.
4. something scrawled, as a letter or a note.
Origin:
1605–15; perh. to be identified with late ME scraule to sprawl, crawl (b. sprawl and crawl )
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To scrawl
scrawl   (skrôl)   
v.   scrawled, scrawl·ing, scrawls

v.   tr.
To write hastily or illegibly.
v.   intr.
To write in a sprawling, irregular manner.
n.  
  1. Irregular, often illegible handwriting.
  2. Something, such as a note, written hastily or illegibly.

[Perhaps from obsolete scrawl, to gesticulate, sprawl, from Middle English scrawlen, probably blend of sprawlen, to sprawl; see sprawl and craulen, to crawl; see crawl1.]
scrawl'er n., scrawl'y adj.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Scrawl

Scrawl\, v. i. See Crawl. [Obs.] --Latimer.

Scrawl

Scrawl\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Scrawled; p. pr. & vb. n. Scrawling.] [Probably corrupted from scrabble.] To draw or mark awkwardly and irregularly; to write hastily and carelessly; to scratch; to scribble; as, to scrawl a letter.

His name, scrawled by himself. --Macaulay.

Scrawl

Scrawl\, v. i. To write unskillfully and inelegantly.

Though with a golden pen you scrawl. --Swift.

Scrawl

Scrawl\ (skr[add]l), n. Unskillful or inelegant writing; that which is unskillfully or inelegantly written.

The left hand will make such a scrawl, that it will not be legible. --Arbuthnot.

You bid me write no more than a scrawl to you. --Gray.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Language Translation for : scrawl
Spanish: garabatear,
German: kritzeln,
Japanese: 走り書きする
More Translations »

scrawl  (v.)
1612, perhaps from M.E. scrawlen "spread out the limbs, sprawl" (c.1380), which possibly is an alteration of sprawlen (see sprawl) or crawl. The noun is recorded from 1693.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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