The Collaborative International Dictionary
Scrabble \Scrab"ble\ (skr[a^]b"b'l), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Scrabbled; p. pr. & vb. n. Scrabbling.] [Freq. of scrape. Cf. Scramble, Scrawl, v. t.]
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To scrape, paw, or scratch with the hands; to proceed by clawing with the hands and feet; to scramble; as, to scrabble up a cliff or a tree.
Now after a while Little-faith came to himself, and getting up made shift to scrabble on his way.
--Bunyan. -
To make irregular, crooked, or unmeaning marks; to scribble; to scrawl.
David . . . scrabbled on the doors of the gate.
--1. Sam. xxi. 1
Wiktionary
vb. (en-past of: scrabble)
Usage examples of "scrabbled".
Ekkedme slammed into a jagged bulkhead and slid higher, holding tight to the ball as his hind legs scrabbled for purchase.
Its claws scrabbled against his metal and found purchase in the cracks between his armor plates.
He scrabbled over the side of the tub, splashing more water, and retreated.
She scrabbled in a large shapeless bag, and emerged with a packet of white powder, a mirror, and a straw.
They scrabbled up the slope, going slowly and cautiously because the surface was wet and slippery.
It scrabbled at the wall, sending paint and concrete dust plummeting before it.
He scraped his heels on the bare wood and scrabbled towards the stairs.
From across the room, the foot-long caterpillar scrabbled around the floor of its new cage.
The thing on the window-sill scrabbled with its fingers for a moment, then tore away the frame with a quick motion, leaving an ugly wound where the window had been.
The militia crouching over Lemuel dropped their staffs and scrabbled to get out of its way.
He squeezed his tight fat bulk past the metal lips and scrabbled with the lid, preparing to replace it as he dropped out of sight.
Isaac pulled her clear, dropped to the floor and scrabbled away from the rampaging creature.
The Ghost rose and scrabbled across the listing deck to the nearest rubber life raft and began undoing the tie-down ropes.
The wind scrabbled curiously at his threadbare black clothing, seeking to touch the thin flesh stretched tight over his ribs.
Its rich scent filled her nostrils as she scrabbled for a purchase that would keep her out of the water.