Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Straggle
Strag′gle
,Verb.
I.
[
imp. & p. p.
Straggled
; p. pr. & vb. n.
Straggling
.] 1.
To wander from the direct course or way; to rove; to stray; to wander from the line of march or desert the line of battle;
as, when troops are on the march, the men should not
. straggle
Dryden.
2.
To wander at large; to roam idly about; to ramble.
The wolf spied out a
straggling
kid. L’Estrange.
3.
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.
Trim off the small, superfluous branches on each side of the hedge that
straggle too far out
. Mortimer.
4.
To be dispersed or separated; to occur at intervals.
“Straggling pistol shots.” Sir W. Scott.
They came between Scylla and Charybdis and the
straggling
rocks. Sir W. Raleigh.
Strag′gle
,Noun.
The act of straggling.
[R.]
Carlyle.
Webster 1828 Edition
Straggle
STRAGGLE
,Verb.
I.
1.
To wander from the direct course or way; to rove. When troops are on the march, let not the men straggle.2.
To wander at large without an certain direction or object; to ramble.The wolf spied a straggling kid.
3.
To exuberate; to shoot too far in growth. Prune the straggling branches of the hedge.4.
To be dispersed; to be apart from any main body.They came between Scylla and Charybdis and the straggling rocks.