Meaning & Definition of word "Scrawl"
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.