grobble

English

Alternative forms

• groffle, gruffle

Etymology

From grob (“to grub”) +‎ -le (frequentative suffix). Compare grubble.

Verb

grobble (third-person singular simple present grobbles, present participle grobbling, simple past and past participle grobbled)

1. (dialectal, transitive, intransitive) To make holes; dig, poke, pick out.
2. (dialectal, transitive, intransitive) To feel around, as in the dark; grope.
3. (dialectal, intransitive) To work in an inefficient and laborious way; to do rough, dirty work.
4. (dialectal, intransitive) To loiter, hang around idly.