Dictionary entry

Shrivel

Webster's Dictionary 1913

Shriv″el (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p.Shriveled (?) or Shrivelled; p. pr. & vb. n.Shriveling or Shrivelling.] [Probably akin to shrimp, shrink; cf. dial. AS. screpa to pine away, Norw. skrypa to waste, skryp, skryv, transitory, frail, Sw. skröpling feeble, Dan. skröbelig, Icel. skrj�pr brittle, frail.] To draw, or be drawn, into wrinkles; to shrink, and form corrugations; as, a leaf shriveles in the hot sun; the skin shrivels with age; — often with up.