grabble
Americanverb (used without object)
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to feel or search with the hands; grope.
-
to sprawl; scramble.
verb
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(intr) to scratch or feel about with the hands
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(intr) to fall to the ground; sprawl
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(tr) to seize rashly
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of grabble
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
It’s that we want—and need—the ability to grabble with nuance and ambiguity that are inherent when our bodies and minds fail.
From Slate ● Apr. 9, 2018
To grabble the bit; to seize any one's money.
From 1811 Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue by Francis Grose
Happy dat de house am full So yuh'll hab toh trabble; Mister Trouble, stretch yoh laigs Libely down de grabble!
From Oklahoma Sunshine by Freeman E. (Freeman Edwin) Miller
And every minute their fingers grabble in the purses of nobles.
From My Neighbors Stories of the Welsh People by Caradoc Evans
Then we grabble in de pot for more.
From Slave Narratives: a Folk History of Slavery in the United States From Interviews with Former Slaves South Carolina Narratives, Part 4 by Work Projects Administration
“Rebel Yell” starts up from the sound system and, as if on cue, my son lets out a grabbled “a-woooh!”
From Slate ● Jun. 30, 2015
Suddenly, the Fleshlumpeater shot out two enormous hands and grabbled the BFG around the waist.
From "The BFG" by Roald Dahl
Being blind made touch even more of an instrument of knowing something although all grabbled around in darkness.
From Tokyo to Tijuana: Gabriele Departing America by Steven (Steven David Justin) Sills
With white claws of foam the sea grabbled at the shore.
From A House of Pomegranates by Oscar Wilde
He stood with his broad hat in his hand and out of it he grabbled a handkerchief and wiped his face.
From The Jucklins A Novel by Opie Percival Read
Other departments in California are grabbling with similar incidents.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 22, 2020
‘We will swear to do what he wants, yes, yess,’ said Gollum, still twisting and grabbling at his ankle.
From "The Two Towers" by J. R. R. Tolkien
And then, as if a signal has gone off that only the childrens can hear, all of their hands are reaching and grabbling and snatching.
From "The Unfinished Angel" by Sharon Creech
I heard Collins grabbling for it, somewhere in the dark of the tunnel.
From The La Chance Mine Mystery by George W. Gage
We jumped over the fence, and commenced grabbling for the sweet potatoes.
From "Co. Aytch" Maury Grays, First Tennessee Regiment or, A Side Show of the Big Show by Sam R. Watkins
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
