■ verb
1》 move or make one's way quickly and awkwardly, typically by using one's hands as well as one's feet.
↘ informal act in a hurried, disorderly, or undignified manner: firms ~d to win public-sector contracts.
2》 (with reference to fighter aircraft) take off or cause to take off immediately in an emergency or for action.
3》 make or become jumbled or muddled.
↘cook (beaten eggs with a little liquid) in a pan.
4》 make (a broadcast transmission or telephone conversation) unintelligible unless received by an appropriate decoding device.
5》 American Football (of a quarterback) run with the ball behind the line of scrimmage, avoiding tackles.
■ noun
1》 an act of scrambling.
2》 a walk up steep terrain involving the use of one's hands.
3》 Brit. a motorcycle race over rough and hilly ground.
4》 a disordered mixture.
Origin
C16: imitative; cf. the dialect words scamble 'stumble' and cramble 'crawl'.