grabble

Etymology

Definitions

1. 1

   To search with one's hands and fingers

   To search with one's hands and fingers; to attempt to grasp something.

   • He has only a few Scratches on his Face; which, said she, I suppose he got by grabbling among the Gravel, at the bottom of the Dam, to try to find a Hole in the Ground, to hide himself from the Robbers.
2. 2

   To search in a similar way using an implement.

   • […] 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. 3

   To touch (someone) with one's hands or fingers, sometimes in a sexual way.

   • I struggle, confused, frightened, which he mistakes for excitement, grabbling my breasts, scrubbing them in circles as he plunges his tongue.
   • “Come here, boys, and let your gorgeous auntie grabble her hairy little monkeys!”
4. ›+ 9 more definitionsshow fewer

   1. 4

      To pick (something or someone) up hastily, roughly or clumsily.

      • [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.
      • He grabbled one of the canteens and, unfastening its cap, swung it down by the cord.
      • “When Cave Men carry off little girls,” she said, “do they throw them over their shoulders,—or just grabble them up under their arms?”
   2. 5

      To attempt to grab

      To attempt to grab; to grasp at (something).

      • 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.
   3. 6

      To pull, lift or dig (something) (out of the ground) by searching with one's hands and…

      To pull, lift or dig (something) (out of the ground) by searching with one's hands and fingers.

      • Going through the woods, he grabbled acorns from under the snow, thinking to fling them in the hogshead, and find out if the jays would really eat them.
   4. 7

      To lift (something) out in a similar way using an implement.

   5. 8

      To catch fish by reaching into the water with one's hand.

      • 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.’
      • “Now watch me,” said Uncle Huse, “and I’ll show you how to grabble fish.” Slowly his hand went down among the fish. “Look,” said he, “I am going to yank out de larges’.”
      • […] in the water she could go faster than a man and Darl had to grabble for her […]
   6. 9

      To fish on the grabble.

      • It was just after such a day that I grabbled fifty of the best salmon I ever saw—all fresh run from the sea.
   7. 10

      To utter inarticulate sounds, often quickly and loudly

      To utter inarticulate sounds, often quickly and loudly; to say (something) quickly, idly or foolishly.

      • […] there was instantly a dreadful confusion and uproar in the room, and such a grabbling and laughing; he could not catch the words […]
      • “We are very grateful to you for coming, sir,” said Alleyn. “Not at all, not at all,” grabbled Mr. Rattisbon. “Shocking affair. Dreadful.”
      • Who the hell were all these bastards? Grabbling like a bunch of monkeys, talking gibberish.
   8. 11

      To lie prostrate

      To lie prostrate; to sprawl on the ground.

      • A Loft O Soule; soare up, doe not turmoyle Thy selfe by grabbling on a dunghill soyle:
      • And this is the reason that we so often lie grabling under the black, and amazing thoughts that are engendred in our hearts by unbelief:
   9. 12

      A method of fishing using a line with several hooks fastened to it along with a lead…

      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.

      • To lay / fish (up)on the grabble
      • Some advise to angle for the common Eel upon the Grabble […]

The neighborhood