straggle

[ strag-uh l ]
/ ˈstræg əl /

verb (used without object), strag·gled, strag·gling.

to stray from the road, course, or line of march.
to wander about in a scattered fashion; ramble.
to spread or be spread in a scattered fashion or at irregular intervals: The trees straggle over the countryside.

Origin of straggle

1350–1400; Middle English straglen < ?

OTHER WORDS FROM straggle

strag·gler, noun strag·gling·ly, adverb

Example sentences from the Web for straggler

British Dictionary definitions for straggler

straggle
/ (ˈstræɡəl) /

verb (intr)

to go, come, or spread in a rambling or irregular way; stray
to linger behind or wander from a main line or part

Derived forms of straggle

straggler, noun straggling, adjective stragglingly, adverb straggly, adjective

Word Origin for straggle

C14: of uncertain origin; perhaps related to strake and stretch