[crawl] vb [ME, fr. ON krafla] vi (14c) 1: to move slowly in a prone position without or as if without the use of limbs "the snake ~ed into its hole"
2: to move or progress slowly or laboriously "traffic ~s along at
10. miles an hour"
3: to advance by guile or servility "~ing into favor by toadying to his boss"
4: to spread by extending stems or tendrils
5. a: to be alive or swarming with or as if with creeping things "a kitchen ~ing with ants" b: to have the sensation of insects creeping over one "the story made her flesh ~"
6: to fail to stay evenly spread--used of paint, varnish, or glaze ~ vt 1: to move upon in or as if in a creeping manner
2: to reprove harshly "they got no good right to ~ me for what I wrote --Marjorie K. Rawlings"
[2]crawl n (1818) 1 a: the act or action of crawling b: slow or laborious progress c chiefly Brit: a going from one pub to another
2: a prone speed swimming stroke consisting of alternating overarm strokes and a flutter kick
3: lettering that moves vertically or horizontally across a television or motion-picture screen to give information (as performer credits or news bulletins)