[L. scribo, Eng. grave, engrave, etc. See Scrape.]

1. To scrape, paw or scratch with the hands; to move along on the hands and knees by clawing with the hands; to scramble; as, to scrabble up a cliff or a tree. [a word in common popular use in New England, but not elegant.]

2. To make irregular or crooked marks; as, children scrabble when they begin to write; hence, to make irregular and unmeaning marks.

David - scrabbled on the doors of the gate. 1 Samuel 21:13.