Word: grabble Part of Speech: verb Etymology: From grab + -le. Pronunciation: /ˈɡɹæbl̩/ 1. To search with one's hands and fingers; to attempt to grasp something. Labels: intransitive Example: 1614, John Taylor, Water-Worke: or, The Sculler’s Travels, Dedication, in All the Works of John Taylor the Water Poet, London: James Boler, 1630, reprinted for the Spenser Society, 1869, Ile grable for Gudgeons or fish for Flounders in the Rereward of our eminent temporizing Humorists, sharpe Satyrists, or Ænigmaticall Epigramatists. Example: […] when he should come to pay his Reckoning he puts his hands into his Pockets, and keeps a grabling and a fumbling, and shaking, at last tells you he has left his Money at home; when all the company knew at first, he had no Money there, for every man can quickly find his own Money. 2. To search in a similar way using an implement. Labels: intransitive, obsolete Example: […] 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 […] 3. To touch (someone) with one's hands or fingers, sometimes in a sexual way. Labels: transitive Example: 1719, Thomas d'Urfey, “Willey’s Intreague” in Wit and Mirth: or Pills to Purge Melancholy, London: J. Tonson, 1876 reprint, p. 195, When Nelly tho’ he teiz’d her, And Grabbled her and Squeez’d her, Cry’d, stay a little, I vow and swear I could kill ye, Another touch I can bear ye, Example: I struggle, confused, frightened, which he mistakes for excitement, grabbling my breasts, scrubbing them in circles as he plunges his tongue. 4. To pick (something or someone) up hastily, roughly or clumsily. Labels: transitive Example: [H]e did so stare at the money, that I vows I thought he'd have rin away with it from the counter—so I grabbled it up, and went away. Example: He grabbled one of the canteens and, unfastening its cap, swung it down by the cord. 5. To attempt to grab; to grasp at (something). Labels: transitive Example: The flailing mob of forty-fold took turns at throwing, each trying to lasso the sinking beast as it grabbled the air in blind terror in an attempt to keep its forelegs above the surface. 6. To pull, lift or dig (something) (out of the ground) by searching with one's hands and fingers. Labels: transitive Example: 1865, W. W. McCarty, “History of Captain W. W. McCarty’s Prison Life, and Southern Prisons,” in History of the 78th Regiment O.V.V.I., Zanesville, OH: Hugh Dunne, p. 302, […] Harry went into the potato patch and grabbled us some sweet potatoes […] Example: Going through the woods, he grabbled acorns from under the snow, thinking to fling them in the hogshead, and find out if the jays would really eat them. 7. To lift (something) out in a similar way using an implement. Labels: obsolete, transitive Example: […] set all these togither on the fire, & boile them till the wine and water be consumed, and that the flesh and bones be separated a sunder, that you may with a paire of tongs grabble out the bones from the rest, thus let it be taken off and pressed through a piece of canuas, and keepe it to your use. 8. To catch fish by reaching into the water with one's hand. Labels: Southeastern, US, ambitransitive Example: You will also take many Flounders […] without a boat, in the drains and watercourses of embanked lands, and even with your hands, for the fish will often seek shelter under your feet if wading; this latter method is termed ‘Grabbling.’ Example: “Now watch me,” said Uncle Huse, “and I’ll show you how to grabble fish.” Slowly his hand went down among the fish. “Look,” said he, “I am going to yank out de larges’.” 9. To fish on the grabble. Labels: ambitransitive, obsolete Example: It was just after such a day that I grabbled fifty of the best salmon I ever saw—all fresh run from the sea. 10. To utter inarticulate sounds, often quickly and loudly; to say (something) quickly, idly or foolishly. Labels: ambitransitive Example: […] there was instantly a dreadful confusion and uproar in the room, and such a grabbling and laughing; he could not catch the words […] Example: “We are very grateful to you for coming, sir,” said Alleyn. “Not at all, not at all,” grabbled Mr. Rattisbon. “Shocking affair. Dreadful.” 11. To lie prostrate; to sprawl on the ground. Labels: intransitive, obsolete Example: 1584, uncredited translator (attributed to Barnabe Rich), The Famous Hystory of Herodotus, London: Thomas Marshe, Book 2, […] they conduct hym to the hygh way that leadeth to the temple of the goddesse Ceres, where after they haue placed hym, they leaue hym grabling in that place, and departe their waye. Example: A Loft O Soule; soare up, doe not turmoyle Thy selfe by grabbling on a dunghill soyle: