grabble

American  

[grab-uhl] / ˈgræb əl /

verb (used without object)

grabbled, grabbling

1. to feel or search with the hands; grope.

2. to sprawl; scramble.

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grabble British  

/ ˈɡræbəl /

verb

1. (intr) to scratch or feel about with the hands

2. (intr) to fall to the ground; sprawl

3. (tr) to seize rashly

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Other Word Forms

• grabbler
  noun

Etymology

Origin of grabble

1570–80; grab ¹ + -le; compare Dutch grabbelen

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

grabble grabbled grabbling

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

"Who gets me, I think, will have to swoop down in an aeroplane, and grabble me all up and fly away with me!"

From Patty's Suitors by Carolyn Wells

Often raccoons, foxes, and squirrels grabble them up.

From The Peanut Plant Its Cultivation And Uses by B. W. Jones

W'en you talk dat a-way you fetches me, sho', en I'll tell you a tale 'bout de ole Witch-Rabbit ef I hatter git down yer on my all-fours en grabble it out'n de ashes.

From Nights With Uncle Remus by Milo Winter

Now, they, I admid, were fine, noble, sensible fellows; they had indelligence enough to regognize the diffiguldies of the siduation, and do grabble with them in a sensible way.

From The Log of the Flying Fish A Story of Aerial and Submarine Peril and Adventure by Gordon Browne

“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

"Oh! you see, I grabbled that in the scuffle, and slipped it into my pocket."

From The Kentuckian in New-York, Volume I (of 2) or, The Adventures of Three Southerns by William Alexander Caruthers

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

With white claws of foam the sea grabbled at the shore. 

From A House of Pomegranates by Oscar Wilde

Other departments in California are grabbling with similar incidents.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 22, 2020

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

‘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

The furies of rage and rancour were grabbling at her heart, even as the leopard had scrabbled on her face.

From Blue Aloes Stories of South Africa by Cynthia Stockley

I heard Collins grabbling for it, somewhere in the dark of the tunnel.

From The La Chance Mine Mystery by George W. Gage