Scrab″ble (skrăb″b'l), v. i. [imp. & p. p.Scrabbled (?); p. pr. & vb. n.Scrabbling (?).] [Freq. of scrape. Cf. Scramble, Scrawl, v. t.] 1. To scrape, paw, or scratch with the hands; to proceed by clawing with the hands and feet; to scramble; as, to scrabble up a cliff or a tree.
Now after a while Little-faith came to himself, and getting up made shift to scrabble on his way. Bunyan.
2. To make irregular, crooked, or unmeaning marks; to scribble; to scrawl.
David... scrabbled on the doors of the gate. 1. Sam. xxi. 13.