I. ˈkrȯl verb
Etymology: Middle English, from Old Norse krafla
Date: 14th century
intransitive verb
1. : to move slowly in a prone position without or as if without the use of limbs
the snake crawl ed into its hole
2. : to move or progress slowly or laboriously
traffic crawl s along at 10 miles an hour
3. : to advance by guile or servility
crawl ing into favor by toadying to his boss
4. : to spread by extending stems or tendrils
a crawl ing vine
5.
a. : to be alive or swarming with or as if with creeping things
a kitchen crawl ing with ants
b. : to have the sensation of insects creeping over one
the story made her flesh crawl
6. : to fail to stay evenly spread — used of paint, varnish, or glaze
transitive verb
1. : to move upon in or as if in a creeping manner
all the creatures that crawl the earth
2. : to reprove harshly
they got no good right to crawl me for what I wrote — Marjorie K. Rawlings
II. noun
Date: 1818
1.
a. : the act or action of crawling
b. : slow or laborious progress
c. chiefly British : a going from one pub to another
2. : a fast swimming stroke executed in a prone position with 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)