scribble1
[skrib-uh l]
- to write hastily or carelessly: to scribble a letter.
- to cover with meaningless writing or marks: to scribble all over a page.
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- to write or draw in a hasty or careless way.
- to make meaningless marks, scrolls, lines, etc., with a pencil, pen, or the like.
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- a note or other writing that has little or no meaning.
- a hasty or careless drawing or piece of writing.
- handwriting, especially when illegible.
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Origin of scribble1
1425–75; late Middle English scribblen (v.) < Medieval Latin scrībillāre to scribble, derivative of Latin scrībere to write; see shrive
scribble2
[skrib-uh l]
- to tear apart (wool fibers) in the first stages of carding.
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Origin of scribble2
1675–85; < Dutch schribbelen to scratch; cognate with schrobbelen to card wool coarsely, frequentative of schrobben to scrub1
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for scribbling
Contemporary Examples
Scribbling notes in the classroom next door is Justine, a shy 17-year-old orphan who is the only female in her class.
A couple of ladies, standing on tiptoe, are scribbling over it with eyeliner and lipstick.
The Stacks: The Neville Brothers Stake Their Claim as Bards of the BayouJohn Ed Bradley
April 27, 2014
I caught his eye and made a motion with my hand, as if I were scribbling out the bill for our lunch.
Was he scribbling his cantatas up to the day before the performance?
He was scribbling busily on a notepad--and some of it might even end up in the first accused-mob-boss blog.
Historical Examples
When I have time and am not too tired, I comfort myself with scribbling.
Ballads of a BohemianRobert W. Service
One or two tear drops stained the paper on which the girl was scribbling.
Jennie Baxter, JournalistRobert Barr
You can see, by the way I am scribbling, that I have an idle and rainy afternoon.
The Life and Letters of Charles Darwin, Volume I (of II)Charles Darwin
McNorton was scribbling notes in shorthand and carefully circled the hour.
The Green RustEdgar Wallace
He was scribbling on a book of tickets and it was piling up deep.
Highways in HidingGeorge Oliver Smith
scribble1
- to write or draw in a hasty or illegible manner
- to make meaningless or illegible marks (on)
- derogatory, or facetious to write poetry, novels, etc
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- hasty careless writing or drawing
- writing, esp literary matter, of poor quality
- meaningless or illegible marks
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Word Origin
C15: from Medieval Latin scrībillāre to write hastily, from Latin scrībere to write
scribble2
- (tr) to card (wool, etc)
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Word Origin
C17: probably from Low German; compare schrubben scrub 1
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for scribbling
scribble
v.
mid-15c., from Medieval Latin scribillare, diminutive of Latin scribere "to write" (see script (n.)). Related: Scribbled; scribbling. The noun, "hurried or careless writing," is 1570s, from the verb.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper