straggle

[ strag-uhl ]

/ ˈstræg əl /

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See synonyms for: straggle / straggling / straggler on Thesaurus.com

verb (used without object), strag·gled, strag·gling.

to stray from the road, course, or line of march.

to wander about in a scattered fashion; ramble.

to spread or be spread in a scattered fashion or at irregular intervals: The trees straggle over the countryside.

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Origin of straggle

1350–1400; Middle English straglen< ?

OTHER WORDS FROM straggle

straggler, nounstrag·gling·ly, adverb

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use straggle in a sentence

Then the crowd dispersed and a few of the stragglers were arrested.
Mexican Protesters Look to Start a New Revolution|Jason McGahan|November 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In New York state, a few stragglers are in service for local school, library, and municipal elections.
RIP, Lever Voting Machines: Where Did Old Booths Go?|Eliza Shapiro|November 10, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Dismounting, I received congratulations on not dying from a couple of stragglers in our group who had seen the whole thing unfold.
Monument Valley From the Eyes of a Krazy Kat and John Ford Fan|Malcolm Jones|February 3, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Once in their seats, a coach runs them through the song, attempting to bring the stragglers up to speed.
Secret Rituals of American Idol Auditions Exposed|Richard Rushfield|January 19, 2010|DAILY BEAST

Stragglers were coming and going into the fall and winter, so some delegates did not sign until several months later.
Nothing Happened on the Fourth|Joseph J. Ellis|July 3, 2009|DAILY BEAST
Though generally a winter visitant, I have seen occasional stragglers in summer.
Birds of Guernsey (1879)|Cecil Smith
He protected the people from stragglers and deserters, who pillaged friend and foe alike.
Famous Adventures And Prison Escapes of the Civil War|Various
A few roving stragglers from the Seljouk host pricked after him, two or three arrows twittered overhead.
God Wills It!|William Stearns Davis
Leaving the other stragglers to continue their march, Fergan was left behind with Colombaik and Joan.
The Pilgrim's Shell or Fergan the Quarryman|Eugne Sue
Our fire had been seen by one of the boats of the River Belle, out picking up such stragglers as could be found.
The Way of a Man|Emerson Hough

British Dictionary definitions for straggle

straggle

/ (ˈstræɡəl) /

verb (intr)

to go, come, or spread in a rambling or irregular way; stray

to linger behind or wander from a main line or part

Derived forms of straggle

straggler, nounstraggling, adjectivestragglingly, adverbstraggly, adjective

Word Origin for straggle

C14: of uncertain origin; perhaps related to strake and stretch

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

straggle

Origin of straggle

OTHER WORDS FROM straggle

Words related to straggle

How to use straggle in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for straggle

Derived forms of straggle

Word Origin for straggle