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scrawl

 - 3 dictionary results

scrawl

[skrawl]
–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.
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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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Word Origin & History

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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