Crawl, v. i. [Dan. kravle, or Icel. krafla, to paw, scrabble with the hands; akin to Sw. kr to crawl; cf. LG. krabbeln, D. krabbelen to scratch.].

To move slowly by drawing the body along the ground, as a worm; to move slowly on hands and knees; to creep. [1913 Webster]
"A worm finds what it searches after only by feeling, as it crawls from one thing to another." [1913 Webster]

to move or advance in a feeble, slow, or timorous manner. [1913 Webster]
"He was hardly able to crawl about the room." [1913 Webster]

"The meanest thing that crawl'd beneath my eyes." [1913 Webster]

To advance slowly and furtively; to insinuate one's self; to advance or gain influence by servile or obsequious conduct. [1913 Webster]
"Secretly crawling up the battered walls." [1913 Webster]

"Hath crawled into the favor of the king." [1913 Webster]

"Absurd opinions crawl about the world." [1913 Webster]

To have a sensation as of insect creeping over the body; as, the flesh crawls. See Creep, v. i., 7. [1913 Webster]

Crawl, n.

The act or motion of crawling; slow motion, as of a creeping animal. [1913 Webster]

Crawl, n. [Cf. Kraal.].

A pen or inclosure of stakes and hurdles on the seacoast, for holding fish. [1913 Webster]

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OXFORD DICTIONARY

Crawl, v. & n.
--v.intr.
1 move slowly, esp. on hands and knees.
2 (of an insect, snake, etc.) move slowly with the body close to the ground etc.
3 walk or move slowly (the train crawled into the station).
4 (often foll. by to) colloq. behave obsequiously or ingratiatingly in the hope of advantage.
5 (often foll. by with) be covered or filled with crawling or moving things, or with people etc. compared to this.
6 (esp. of the skin) feel a creepy sensation.
7 swim with a crawl stroke.
--n.
1 an act of crawling.
2 a slow rate of movement.
3 a high-speed swimming stroke with alternate overarm movements and rapid straight-legged kicks.
4 a (usu. in comb.) colloq. a leisurely journey between places of interest (church-crawl). b = pub-crawl.

Derivative

crawlingly adv. crawly adj. (in senses 5, 6 of v.).

Etymology

ME: orig. unkn.: cf. Sw. kravla, Da. kravle

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THESAURUS

Crawl
Australian crawl, abound, all fours, amble, andante, aquaplaning, aquatics, backstroke, balneation, bathe, bathing, bend the knee, blister, bootlick, bow, bow and scrape, breaststroke, butterfly, castigate, claudicate, claudication, couch, cower, crawling, creep, creeping, cringe, crouch, dead march, diving, dog paddle, dogtrot, drag, drag along, drag on, drag out, edge, excoriate, fawn, feel creepy, feel funny, fin, fishtail, flapper, flatter, flay, flipper, floating, flow, footpace, funeral march, go dead slow, go on, go on tiptoe, go slow, grovel, gumshoe, gumshoeing, have gooseflesh, have the creeps, hobble, hug the earth, idle, inch, inch along, jog, jog trot, jog-trot, kneel, kowtow, lay, laze, leisurely gait, lick the dust, lickspittle, lie, lie down, lie flat, lie limply, lie low, lie prone, lie prostrate, lie under, limp, linger, linger on, loll, lounge, lumbering pace, mincing steps, mosey, natation, nightwalk, nightwalking, pad, padding, plod, poke, poke along, prowl, prowling, pullulate, pussyfoot, pussyfooting, rack, recline, repose, roast, saunter, scathe, scorch, scrabble, scramble, shamble, shuffle, shuffle along, sidestroke, sidle, sidling, slam, slide, slink, slinking, slouch, slow march, slow motion, snake, snaking, sneak, sneaking, sprawl, squat, squirm, stagger along, steal, steal along, stealing, stoop, stroll, surfboarding, surfing, swarm, swim, swimming, tarry, teem, tippytoe, tiptoe, tiptoeing, toadeat, toady, toddle, toddle along, totter along, traipse, treading water, truckle, trudge, underlie, waddle, wading, walk, waterskiing, wear on, wiggle, worm, worm along, worming, wriggle

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ROGET THESAURUS

Crawl

Tergiversation
VB change one's mind, change one's intention, change one's purpose, change one's note, abjure, renounce, withdraw from, waver, vacillate, wheel round, turn round, veer round, turn a pirouette, go over from one side to another, pass from one side to another, change from one side to another, skip from one side to another, go to the rightabout, box the compass, shift one's ground, go upon another tack, apostatize, change sides, go over, rat, recant, retract, revoke, rescind, recall, forswear, unsay, come over, come round to an opinion, crawfish, crawl, draw in one's horns, eat one's words, eat the leek, swallow the leek, swerve, flinch, back out of, retrace one's steps, think better of it, come back return to one's first love, turn over a new leaf, trim, shuffle, play fast and loose, blow hot and cold, coquet, be on the fence, straddle, bold with the hare but run with the hounds, nager entre deux eaux, wait to see how the cat jumps, wait to see how the wind blows.

Servility
VB cringe, bow, stoop, kneel, bend the knee, fall on one's knees, prostrate oneself, worship, sneak, crawl, crouch, cower, sponge, truckle to, grovel, fawn, lick the feet of, kiss the hem of one's garment, kiss one's ass, suck up, pay court to, feed on, fatten on, dance attendance on, pin oneself upon, hang on the sleeve of, avaler les couleuvres, keep time to, fetch and carry, do the dirty work of, go with the stream, worship the rising sun, hold with the hare and run with the hounds.

Slowness
VB move slowly, creep, crawl, lag, slug, drawl, linger, loiter, saunter, plod, trudge, stump along, lumber, trail, drag, dawdle, grovel, worm one's way, steal along, job on, rub on, bundle on, toddle, waddle, wabble, slug, traipse, slouch, shuffle, halt, hobble, limp, caludicate, shamble, flag, falter, trotter, stagger, mince, step short, march in slow time, march in funeral procession, take one's time, hang fire, retard, relax, slacken, check, moderate, rein in, curb, reef, strike sail, shorten sail, take in sail, put on the drag, apply the brake, clip the wings, reduce the speed, slacken speed, slacken one's pace, lose ground.

Regression
VB recede, regrade, return, revert, retreat, retire, retrograde, retrocede, back out, back down, balk, crawfish, crawl, withdraw, rebound, go back, come back, turn back, hark back, draw back, fall back, get back, put back, run back, lose ground, fall astern, drop astern, backwater, put about, backtrack, take the back track, veer round, double, wheel, countermarch, ebb, regurgitate, jib, shrink, shy, turn tail, turn round, turn upon one's heel, turn one's back upon, retrace one's steps, dance the back step, sound a retreat, beat a retreat, go home.

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