scrawly

[ skraw-lee ]

adjective

, scrawl·i·er, scrawl·i·est.

1. written or drawn awkwardly or carelessly.

Other Words From

• scrawli·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of scrawly¹

First recorded in 1825–35; scrawl + -y ¹

Example Sentences

You better hold up there, Scrawly, if you don't want to try the depth of that gutter.

From Project Gutenberg

And every week or so a very scrawly epistle, usually on yellow tablet paper, arrives from Princeton.

From Project Gutenberg

He knew this far better than the poor, scrawly, uncultivated handwriting which he had seen so little.

From Project Gutenberg

A mist came up out of the past and blurred the scrawly letters until they swam before my eyes and faded out of sight.

From Project Gutenberg

She looked at her friend curiously, as Molly glanced at the address written in a rather large, scrawly masculine hand.

From Project Gutenberg