/ skrɔːl; NAmE / verb , noun
■ verb
scrawl (sth) (across / in / on sth) to write sth in a careless untidy way, making it difficult to read
SYN scribble :
[ vn ]
I tried to read his directions, scrawled on a piece of paper.
[ v ]
Someone had scrawled all over my notes.
■ noun
a careless untidy way of writing; sth written in this way
SYN scribble :
Her signature was an illegible scrawl.
I can't be expected to read this scrawl!
The paper was covered in scrawls.
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WORD ORIGIN
early 17th cent.: apparently an alteration of the verb crawl , perhaps influenced by obsolete scrawl sprawl .