Meaning & Definition of word "Scrawl"
to
Scrawl
/skrɔːl/
noun:
- 1. A carelessly or hastily written note or piece of writing.
- Example: She received a scrawl on a napkin with a phone number and address.
- 2. A messy or illegible handwriting.
- Example: The teacher struggled to decipher the student's scrawl on the exam paper.
verb:
- 1. To write or draw carelessly and quickly.
- Example: He would often scrawl his thoughts in a notebook before they slipped away.
- 2. To write in a messy or illegible way.
- Example: The child's scrawl was difficult to read, but it was clear they had put effort into it.
Etymology
Middle English 'scrallen', possibly of imitative origin.
Common Phrases and Expressions
scrawl something down:
to write something quickly and carelessly.
in a scrawl:
written in a hasty or messy style.
torn from the scrawl:
to draw attention from hastily written notes.
Related Words
scribble:
to write or draw carelessly.
doodle:
a simple, spontaneous, or unconscious drawing made while a person's attention is otherwise occupied.
scratch:
to write or mark down hastily.
Slang Meanings of scrawl
Meaning: to write something quickly without care for neatness
Example Sentence: Just scrawl it down, I don't need it to look perfect.
Meaning: to produce something poorly written or drawn
Example Sentence: My notes are just a scrawl; I barely understood the lecture.