Grabble

Quick meaning: Grabble is a verb meaning (intransitive) To search with one's hands and fingers; to attempt to grasp something.

Meaning

(intransitive) To search with one's hands and fingers; to attempt to grasp something.

More Meanings

1. (intransitive, obsolete) To search in a similar way using an implement.
2. (transitive) To touch (someone) with one's hands or fingers, sometimes in a sexual way.
3. (transitive) To pick (something or someone) up hastily, roughly or clumsily.
4. (transitive) To attempt to grab; to grasp at (something).
5. (transitive) To pull, lift or dig (something) (out of the ground) by searching with one's hands and fingers.
6. (transitive, obsolete) To lift (something) out in a similar way using an implement.
7. (ambitransitive, now Southeastern US) To catch fish by reaching into the water with one's hand.

Example Sentences

[…] we see beneath the digger’s spade earth spill her hidden treasures out, and greedy hands go grabbling after gold,

I struggle, confused, frightened, which he mistakes for excitement, grabbling my breasts, scrubbing them in circles as he plunges his tongue.

[…] he proposes to spend the Afternoon at the Out-side of the Rock, in viewing the Sea, and looking for Oysters; so takes in his Hand his long Staff to grabble in Holes […]

He has only a few Scratches on his Face; which, said she, I suppose he got by grabbling among the Gravel, at the bottom of the Dam, to try to find a Hole in the Ground, to hide himself from the Robbers.

Word Forms

• grabbles
• grabbling
• grabbled

Synonyms for grabble

Depending on context, synonyms include fumble, grope, grubble, root, rummage, scrabble.

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include fumble, grobble, grope, grab, guddle, gropple.

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