grobble

English

Alternative forms

  • groffle, gruffle

Etymology

From grob (to grub) +‎ -le (frequentative suffix). Compare grubble.

Verb

grobble (third-person singular simple present grobbles, present participle grobbling, simple past and past participle grobbled)

  1. (dialectal, ambitransitive) To make holes; dig, poke, pick out.
  2. (dialectal, ambitransitive) To feel around, as in the dark; grope.
  3. (dialectal, intransitive) To work in an inefficient and laborious way; to do rough, dirty work.
  4. (dialectal, intransitive) To loiter, hang around idly.

Anagrams