grabble

grab +‎ -le

grabble (third-person singular simple present grabbles, present participle grabbling, simple past and past participle grabbled)

1. To search with one's hands and fingers; to grope.
   • 1887, The Canterville Ghost/Chapter III by Oscar Wilde

     A few hollow groans from the wardrobe, he thought, would be more than sufficient, or, if that failed to wake her, he might grabble at the counterpane with palsy-twitching fingers.

   • Selden

     He puts his hands into his pockets, and keeps a-grabbling and fumbling.

2. To lie prostrate on the belly; to sprawl on the ground; to grovel.

   (Can we find and add a quotation of Ainsworth to this entry?)

• gabbler

grabble

1. First-person singular present of grabbeln.
2. First-person singular subjunctive I of grabbeln.
3. Third-person singular subjunctive I of grabbeln.
4. Imperative singular of grabbeln.