from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Crawl \Crawl\ (kr[add]l), v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Crawled}
(kr[add]ld); p. pr. & vb. n. {Crawling}.] [Dan. kravle, or
Icel. krafla, to paw, scrabble with the hands; akin to Sw.
kr[aum]la to crawl; cf. LG. krabbeln, D. krabbelen to
scratch.]
1. To move slowly by drawing the body along the ground, as a
worm; to move slowly on hands and knees; to creep.
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A worm finds what it searches after only by feeling,
as it crawls from one thing to another. --Grew.
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2. Hence, to move or advance in a feeble, slow, or timorous
manner.
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He was hardly able to crawl about the room.
--Arbuthnot.
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The meanest thing that crawl'd beneath my eyes.
--Byron.
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3. To advance slowly and furtively; to insinuate one's self;
to advance or gain influence by servile or obsequious
conduct.
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Secretly crawling up the battered walls. --Knolles.
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Hath crawled into the favor of the king. --Shak.
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Absurd opinions crawl about the world. --South.
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4. To have a sensation as of insect creeping over the body;
as, the flesh crawls. See {Creep}, v. i., 7.
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