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Grabble
Definitions
- 1 A method of fishing using a line with several hooks fastened to it along with a lead weight so that the hooks sit on the bottom. obsolete, uncountable
"To lay / fish (up)on the grabble"
- 1 To search with one's hands and fingers; to attempt to grasp something. intransitive
"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."
- 2 To search in a similar way using an implement. intransitive, obsolete
"[…] 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. transitive
"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,"
- 4 To pick (something or someone) up hastily, roughly or clumsily. transitive
"[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."
- 5 To attempt to grab; to grasp at (something). transitive
"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."
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- 6 To pull, lift or dig (something) (out of the ground) by searching with one's hands and fingers. transitive
"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 […]"
- 7 To lift (something) out in a similar way using an implement. obsolete, transitive
"[…] 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. Southeastern, US, ambitransitive
"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.’"
- 9 To fish on the grabble. ambitransitive, obsolete
"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. ambitransitive
"[…] there was instantly a dreadful confusion and uproar in the room, and such a grabbling and laughing; he could not catch the words […]"
- 11 To lie prostrate; to sprawl on the ground. intransitive, obsolete
"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."
Etymology
From grab + -le.
From grab + -le.
See also for "grabble"
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Unscramble this word: grabble