scrabble

[skrab-uh l] /ˈskræb əl/
verb (used with object), scrabbled, scrabbling.
1.
to scratch or scrape, as with the claws or hands.
2.
to grapple or struggle with or as if with the claws or hands.
3.
to scrawl; scribble.
verb (used without object), scrabbled, scrabbling.
4.
to scratch or dig frantically with the hands; claw (often followed by at):
scrabbling at a locked door to escape the flames.
5.
to jostle or struggle for possession of something; grab or collect something in a disorderly way; scramble.
noun
6.
a scratching or scraping, as with the claws or hands.
7.
a scrawled or scribbled writing.
8.
a disorderly struggle for possession of something; scramble:
After the fumble, there was a scrabble for the football.
Origin
1530-40; < Dutch schrabbelen to scratch, frequentative of schrabben to scrape
Related forms
scrabbler, noun

Scrabble

[skrab-uh l] /ˈskræb əl/
Trademark.
1.
a brand name for a game combining anagrams and crosswords in which two to four players use counters of various point values to form words on a playing board.
Examples from the web for scrabble
  • Some experts have argued that the animal used its wings to hop and scrabble about in trees rather than for powered flight.
  • Their legs would scrabble around and they nearly choked themselves trying to get off.
  • Or it can stop paying unemployed workers, and let them scrabble around for something.
  • These redistricting battles may be even more annoying for voters, forced to stand by while partisans scrabble over turf.
  • Preventive health care has already become neglected as the township hospitals scrabble to make ends meet.
  • Hordes of freelance miners scrabble for ore by hand, wash it in a river and sell it to local smugglers.
  • Much of the time, the accordion gathers dust, while its owners scrabble for a living and die horribly elsewhere.
  • The indoor lounge has a gas fireplace and a scrabble board and pool table for recreation.
  • Izzard references scrabble several times during his performance.
British Dictionary definitions for scrabble

scrabble

/ˈskræbəl/
verb
1.
(intransitive; often foll by about or at) to scrape (at) or grope (for), as with hands or claws
2.
to struggle (with)
3.
(intransitive) often foll by for. to struggle to gain possession, esp in a disorderly manner
4.
to scribble
noun
5.
the act or an instance of scrabbling
6.
a scribble
7.
a disorderly struggle
Word Origin
C16: from Middle Dutch shrabbelen, frequentative of shrabben to scrape

Scrabble

/ˈskræbəl/
noun
1.
trademark a board game in which words are formed by placing lettered tiles in a pattern similar to a crossword puzzle
Derived Forms
Scrabbler, noun
Word Origin and History for scrabble
v.

1530s, "to scrawl, scribble," from Dutch schrabbelen, frequentative of schrabben "to scratch," from the same root as scrape (v.). Meaning "to struggle, scramble" first recorded 1630s. Related: Scrabbled; scrabbling.

Scrabble

n.

board game, 1949, proprietary name (registered U.S.), probably from scribble-scrabble "hasty writing" (1580s), a reduplication of scribble (n.).