scrabble

¹

[ skrab-uhl ]

verb (used with object)

, scrab·bled, scrab·bling.

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)

, scrab·bled, scrab·bling.

1. to scratch or dig frantically with the hands; claw (often followed by at ):

   scrabbling at a locked door to escape the flames.

2. to jostle or struggle for possession of something; grab or collect something in a disorderly way; scramble.

noun

1. a scratching or scraping, as with the claws or hands.
2. a scrawled or scribbled writing.
3. a disorderly struggle for possession of something; scramble:

   After the fumble, there was a scrabble for the football.

Scrabble

²

[ skrab-uhl ]

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.

Scrabble

¹

/ ˈskræbəl /

noun

1. a board game in which words are formed by placing lettered tiles in a pattern similar to a crossword puzzle

scrabble

²

/ ˈskræbəl /

verb

1. intr; often foll by about or at to scrape (at) or grope (for), as with hands or claws
2. to struggle (with)
3. introften foll byfor to struggle to gain possession, esp in a disorderly manner
4. to scribble

noun

1. the act or an instance of scrabbling
2. a scribble
3. a disorderly struggle

Derived Forms

• ˈScrabbler, noun

Other Words From

• scrabbler noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of scrabble¹

1530–40; < Dutch schrabbelen to scratch, frequentative of schrabben to scrape

Word History and Origins

Origin of scrabble¹

C16: from Middle Dutch shrabbelen, frequentative of shrabben to scrape

Example Sentences

It does however fit on a Super Scrabble board, which is twice the size and played with twice the number of tiles.

From The Daily Beast

Note: Unusual words that are playable in Scrabble appear in this article in boldface.

From The Daily Beast

So just how much time have we spent engaged with the Scrabble-like word game?

From The Daily Beast

The book came out 30 years ago, and the film was an even bigger flop than that after-school Scrabble club you tried to start.

From The Daily Beast

Wake up, walk dog, play a little online Scrabble, start to work.

From The Daily Beast

Down would go the chained hands to scrabble in the grass for it, and then the picking would go on again.

From Project Gutenberg

There used to be a very messy, rocky desert here, and we used to have to scrabble and scratch our way to the monument.

From Project Gutenberg

At this mention of him she reached forward and began to scrabble things hastily into the trunk.

From Project Gutenberg

I inclose with this the pages of feeble scribble-scrabble which the creature Sharpin calls a report.

From Project Gutenberg

I say it not in envy, but with the awe of one who has had to scrabble and who sees endless scrabbling ahead.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• scuffle
• skirmish