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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THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?

Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.

Question 1 of 7

In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

candystring

candyfloss

candypuff

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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. 2023

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