Straggle

Origin

From Middle English straglen, of uncertain origin.

Full definition of straggle

Verb

1. To stray from the road, course or line of march.He straggled away from the crowd and went off on his own.
2. To wander about; ramble.
• L'EstrangeThe wolf spied out a straggling kid.
3. To spread at irregular intervals.
• 1907, w, The Dust of Conflict Chapter 7, Then there was no more cover, for they straggled out, not in ranks but clusters, from among orange trees and tall, flowering shrubs....
4. To escape or stretch beyond proper limits, as the branches of a plant; to spread widely apart; to shoot too far or widely in growth.
• MortimerTrim off the small, superfluous branches on each side of the hedge that straggle too far out.
5. To be dispersed or separated; to occur at intervals.
• Sir Walter Scottstraggling pistol shots
• Sir Walter RaleighThey came between Scylla and Charybdis and the straggling rocks.

Derived terms

• (noun) straggler
• (adjective) stragglingly

Noun

1. The act of straggling.