scamblen.1
Scottish and northern.† 2. plural (construed as singular). A slaughterhouse (also figurative); a meat or fish market; a shambles. Obsolete.
1. A bench; now, ‘a kind of long form used in a farm-house kitchen’ ( Eng. Dial. Dict.).
ΚΠ
1488 (c1478) Hary Actis & Deidis Schir William Wallace (Adv.) (1968–9) xii. l. 1352 Thai xxxty dayis his band thai durst nocht slaik, Quhill he was bundyn on a skamyll off ayk.
1885 H. Caine Shadow of Crime x [He] had placed the benches called skemmels down each side.
ΚΠ
1549–50 in R. Renwick Extracts Rec. Stirling (1887) I. 58 To brek fischis apon the skemlis of the foirgate.
1561 Aberdeen Reg. (1844) I. 334 For makking of ane skaymlis of tre at the fysche cors, for laying of the quhyt fysche tharupoune.
1572 in J. Cranstoun Satirical Poems Reformation (1891) I. xxxv. 94 We sall avenge it on that clan, Ȝour freind that to the scambills sauld.
c1600 Hist. & Life James VI (1825) 119 They marchit..to Edinburgh, and plantit a gardehous at the common scambles [ed. 1804: scamells].
1607 Stirling Burgh Rec. (1887) I. 116 The fische skemmillis.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1910; most recently modified version published online December 2020).
† scamblen.2
Obsolete. rare.
A scramble, confused struggle.
ΘΚΠ
society > society and the community > dissent > fighting > [noun] > a fight > for something shared out
scamble1609
scramble1663
1609 J. Davies Humours Heau'n on Earth clxxxiii. 161 Here Bugs bestirre them, with a bellowing rore, (As at a Scamble we see Boyes to sturre) Who for Soules scamble on a glowing flore; Biting and scratching, like the Cat and Curre.
1664 H. More Modest Enq. Myst. Iniquity i. xvi. 320 This pretended Triumvirate is no Supreme Magistracy, but a Political Scuffle or Scamble or transient Shuffle betwixt these three men, Octavius, Antony and Lepidus.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1910; most recently modified version published online June 2019).
scamblev.
/ˈskamb(ə)l/ a. intransitive. To struggle with others for money, fruit, sweetmeats, etc. lying on the ground or thrown to a crowd; hence, to struggle in an indecorous and rapacious manner in order to obtain something. Const. for, after. Obsolete (now superseded by scramble v.).
ΘΚΠ
the mind > possession > acquisition > obtain or acquire [verb (intransitive)] > try to obtain > by struggling with others
scamble1539
scramblec1590
scrabble1697
society > society and the community > dissent > fighting > fight [verb (intransitive)] > fight for something shared out
scamble1539
scramblec1590
grabble1888
1539 R. Taverner tr. Erasmus Prouerbes sig. C.vi The apes..skambled and went together by ye eares for the nuttes.
?1553 Respublica (1952) i. iii. 7 Avarice... Therefore catche that catche maye hardely and spare not—..the devyll ys a knave an I catche not a flyce—..I doubte not to skamble and rake as well as one.
1589 G. Puttenham Arte Eng. Poesie i. xxvi. 41 Ladies and gentlewomen..with their handes wantonly scambling and catching after the nuttes.
1600 P. Holland tr. Livy Rom. Hist. xliv. xlv. 1199 The king,..laid out fiftie talents among them upon the river side to skamble for.
1609 J. Davies Humours Heau'n on Earth clxxxiii. 161 Here Bugs bestirre them, with a bellowing rore, (As at a Scamble we see Boyes to sturre) Who for Soules scamble on a glowing flore; Biting and scratching, like the Cat and Curre.
a1616 W. Shakespeare King John (1623) iv. iii. 147 England now is left To tug and scamble, and to part by th' teeth The vn-owed interest of proud swelling State. View more context for this quotation
1621 R. Burton Anat. Melancholy i. ii. iii. xv. 178 I had no money, I wanted impudence, I could not scamble, temporise, dissemble.
1636 T. Wentworth Let. 25 July in T. Carte Hist. Duke of Ormonde III. (1735) 6 Every man had his money at a day, not scambling one before another without, so much as giving of thanks.
1668 J. Owen Pract. Expos. 130th Psalm 68 This may consist with an obstinate resolution to scamble for something upon the account of self endeavours.
1687 A. Wood Life & Times (1894) III. 237 After the king had don his breakfast, they began to scramble [MS. 19 D (3) fol. 90 scamble]. [In Wood's MS. drafts of this portion of the Life the word occurs several times, variously written scramble and scamble.]
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > motion in specific manner > irregular movement or agitation > move irregularly or be agitated [verb (intransitive)] > struggle
witherc1000
wrest?c1225
tavec1350
strivea1398
scamble1591
1591 J. Lyly Sapho & Phao iv. iii He [a stockdoue]..scambling to catch hold to harbor in the house hee had made,..sodainely fell.
2. transitive. To scatter (money, food) for a crowd to scramble for. Obsolete exc. dialect.Also Scottish (Roxburghshire) ‘Skemmel, skammel, to throw things hither and thither in a slovenly and careless way’ (Jamieson).
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > relative position > arrangement or fact of being arranged > state of being scattered or dispersed > scatter [verb (transitive)] > scatter broadcast > money or food for a crowd
scamble1573
scramble1861
1573 T. Tusser Fiue Hundreth Points Good Husbandry (new ed.) f. 47v Kepe thresshing..to haue to be suer, fresh chaff in the bin. and somewhat to scamble, for hog & for hen.
1600 P. Holland tr. Livy Rom. Hist. lxix. 1246 C. Marius..had purchased a sixth Consulship by a largesse of money skambled amongst the tribes.
1894 R. O. Heslop Northumberland Words (at cited word) At weddings it is customary to scammle money after leaving the church.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > possession > taking > seizing > seize [verb (transitive)] > unscrupulously or rapaciously
wipec1000
scamble1599
ruffle1608
scramble1647
grab1801
1599 E. Sandys Europæ Speculum (1629) 150 Hee will not be a raiser of new stirrs in Italy; as divers of them to scamble somewhat for theyr owne haue beene.
1638 J. Ford Fancies i. 12 Perhaps The scambling halfe a duccat now and then To rore and noyse it with the tatling hostesse.
1695 A. Wood Life 9 Nov. (1894) III. 495 There were only some gentlemen and ordinary people..in the Area who [after the king's departure] rudely scamb [l] ed away all the banquet.
4. † b. To make shift, find means somehow. Obsolete.† c. To make shift for a meal. Obsolete. rare. (Cf. scambling n. b.)† d. quasi-trans. to scamble out: to get through (a period of time) in a haphazard way. Obsolete.
a. intransitive. To make one's way as best one can; to stumble along. literal and figurative. Now only dialect.Also Scottish ‘to climb or walk over slight or loose obstacles, to climb over rocks or walls’ (Jamieson at Skemmel).
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > progressive motion > walking > walk, tread, or step [verb (intransitive)] > unsteadily
wiggle?c1225
walter1399
falterc1400
stammerc1400
dotterc1475
stavera1500
stumblea1500
reel1529
scamblec1571
halper1596
totter1602
folder1607
wamble1611
to make a Virginia fence1671
wandle1686
fribble1709
rock1718
stoit1719
stoiter1724
swagger1724
doddle1761
stotter1781
toit1786
doiter1793
stot1801
dodder1819
twaddle1823
teeter1844
shoggle1884
welter1884
warple1887
whemmel1895
the world > action or operation > difficulty > present difficulties [verb (intransitive)] > have difficulty > act or live through difficulties
scamblec1571
scramble1670
shift1723
manage1762
scrub1831
to struggle on1837
scratch1838
widdle1844
to worry along1871
to scrape along1884
to get by1908
scuffle1939
c1571 E. Campion Two Bks. Hist. Ireland (1963) To Rdr. 5 From thence to Henry the Eighth, because nothing is extant orderly wrytten.., I scamble forward with such recordes as could be sought up.
1579 S. Gosson Schoole of Abuse f. 23v I haue in my voyage suffred wrack with Vlisses, & wringing-wett scambled with life to the shore.
1621 R. Burton Anat. Melancholy i. ii. iii. xv. 181 When they contemne Learning, & think themselues sufficiently qualified, if they can write & read, or scamble at a piece of Evidence.
1685 H. More Cursory Refl. 8 Having scambled through a multitude of Authors carelesly and superficially, he was [etc.].
1706 Phillips's New World of Words (new ed.) To Scamble, to rove or wander up and down.
1901 E. G. Hayden Trav. round Village ii. 42 You had best try an' scamble through the water afoor 'tis too late.
1901 E. G. Hayden Trav. round Village xv. 254 How do 'ee manage to scamble along wi'out Kizzy?
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > advantage > usefulness > use (made of things) > recourse > have recourse [verb (intransitive)] > make do with what is available
doc1300
scamble1608
to make the best of a bad bargain1670
shift1680
fenda1682
to do with ——1715
manage1762
to make do1927
1608 Merry Deuill of Edmonton D 4 b Be ready but to take her at our hands, Leaue vs to scamble for her getting out.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > food > consumption of food or drink > eating > eating meals > eat meal [verb (intransitive)] > make shift for meal
scamble1591
1591 J. Lyly Sapho & Phao iii. ii Molus. I am in the deapth of my learning driuen to a muse, how this lent I shall scamble in the court, that was woont to fast so oft in the Vniuersitie. Criti. Thy belly is thy God.
ΘΚΠ
the world > time > spending time > spend time or allow time to pass [verb (transitive)] > in distress, etc.
to scamble outc1571
wrest1577
to wrestle outa1730
c1571 E. Campion Two Bks. Hist. Ireland (1963) i. xi. 40 In this division thaie scambled out a fewe yeres untill the malice of Carassus, a Britaine, forced a quietnesse betwene them.
5. To throw out the limbs in a loose and awkward manner in walking; to shamble. Obsolete exc. dialect.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > progressive motion > walking > walk, tread, or step [verb (intransitive)] > walk awkwardly
shail?a1400
scamble1633
shamble1681
trollopa1745
staup1788
shammock?1857
1633 [implied in: J. Ford Loves Sacrifice v. sig. Kv Can you imagine, Sir, the name of Duke Could make a crooked leg, a scambling foot,..fit for a Ladies pleasure, no. (at scambling adj. 4)].
1658 [implied in: J. Rowland tr. T. Moffett Theater of Insects in Topsell's Hist. Four-footed Beasts (rev. ed.) 952 The Gnat..hath six long crooked scambling legs..growing from his prominent breast. (at scambling adj. 4)].
1825 J. Jamieson Etymol. Dict. Sc. Lang. Suppl. To Skemmel, Skemble, Skammel.
1852 R. S. Surtees Mr. Sponge's Sporting Tour ii. viii. 33 On horseback, Tom was a..hard-bitten little fellow.., while on foot he was the most shambling, scambling, crooked-going crab that ever was seen.
6. transitive. To collect in a haphazard or irregular manner; to ‘scrape’ together, up. Now dialect.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > relative position > arrangement or fact of being arranged > state of being gathered together > gather together [verb (transitive)] > hastily or haphazardly
ruffle1533
shuffle1570
scamble1577
scramble1822
scuffle1946
1577 W. Harrison Descr. Eng. Ep. Ded. It may be..that your Honour will take offence at my rashe and rechlesse behauiour vsed in the composition of this volume, and much more that being scambled vp after this maner, I dare presume [etc.].
c1592 C. Marlowe Jew of Malta (1633) i. i. B 3 They say we are a scatter'd Nation: I cannot tell, but we haue scambled vp More wealth by farre then those that brag of faith.
1603 R. Knolles Gen. Hist. Turkes 541 Before the enemie should perceiue the weakenesse of his power, which was not great, and scambled vp vpon the sudden.
1638 H. Wotton Let. 6 Nov. in Reliquiæ Wottonianæ (1672) 471 With this dispatch I will intermingle no other vulgar subject, but hereafter I will entertain you with as jolly things as I can scamble together.
1834 Tait's Edinb. Mag. New Ser. 1 544/2 Each might, without much difficulty, ‘scamble up some sort of husband’ from among the corps.
7. To remove piecemeal; to cut away.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > place > removal or displacement > remove or displace [verb (transitive)] > remove or take away > remove or displace by scratching, scraping, stripping, or cutting
bestrip1065
file?c1225
to cut awayc1320
raze1419
screeve?1440
rakec1475
to scrape out, forth1530
scrata1560
scrabble1657
scamble1707
peel1787
1707 J. Mortimer Whole Art Husbandry 426 Finding my Wood cut in patches, and other parts of it scambled and cut before it was at its Growth.
1888 Athenæum 11 Feb. 186/2 This band..was left untouched when the sculptor scooped or scambled away the substance to give depth of space for the relief of the two figures.
Derivatives
ˈscamble-shamble v. (intransitive) to lounge or shamble. (nonce-word).
ΚΠ
1886 J. Ruskin Præterita II. ix. 332 He went scamble-shambling on, a plague to the end.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1910; most recently modified version published online June 2021).
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