Scramble

[imp. & p. p. SCRAMBLED; p. pr. & vb. n. SCRAMBLING.] [Diminutive of Prov. Eng. scramb, to rake together with the hands, or scramp, to snatch at; D. & Ger. schrammen, to scratch, Icel. skrama, id. Cf. SCRABBLE.]

1Sense 1. To go on all-fours; to clamber with hands and knees; to scrabble; as, to scramble up a cliff.

2Sense 2. To struggle with others for something thrown upon the ground; to go down upon all-fours to seize something; to catch rudely, with jostling, and without ceremony, at what is desired.

Of other care they little reckoning make, Than how to scramble at the shearer's feast. Milton.

n. 1. The act of scrambling, climbing on all-fours, or clambering. 2. The act of jostling and pushing for something desired; low and unceremonious struggle for what is thrown or held out.

The scarcity of money enhances the price, and increases the scramble. Locke.