▪ I. scambling, vbl. n.
(ˈskæmblɪŋ)
[-ing1.]
The action of the vb. scamble.
| c 1538 R. Cowley in Ellis Orig. Lett. Ser. ii. II. 98 Such havok and skameling as they make was never seen, to the utter pilling and beggering of the land. 1584 Leycesters Commonw. 106 And how so euer thes two conioyned Earles, do seeme for the tyme to draw together, and to playe bootie: yet..Hastings for ought I see, when he commeth to the scambling, is like to haue no better luck by the Beare, then his auncestor had once by the Boare. 1599 Shakes. Hen. V, v. ii. 218. 1659 Gauden Serm. etc. (1660) 9 Whatever scambling and confusion in Civil and Regular Magistracy mens ambition brought on the state of the Jews, yet [etc.]. 1878 Grosart H. More's Poems, Mem. Introd. 10/1 Those noble old folios, matterful and painstaking, and putting to shame the literary scambling of to-day. |
b. † The action of making shift for a meal or for meals. scambling day: see quot. (obs.). Also, a makeshift or informal meal. Now only dial.
| c 1512 Regul. Northumberld. Househ. (1770) 80 This is the ordre of the Service of Meat and Drynk to be servyd upon the Scamlynge Days in Lent Yerely as to say Mondays and Setterdays thrughe out Lent and what they shall have att the said Scamlyngs. 1563 Pilkington, etc. Burnynge Paules Ch. I iiij, Some..eat more at that one dynner, than the poore man can get at three scamlinges on a day. 1606 Marston Parasitaster ii. i, Come Sir, a stoole boy, the Court Feasts are to vs Seruitors Court Fasts, such scambling, such shift for to eate and where to eate. 1873 W. P. Williams & W. A. Jones Somerset. Gloss., Scamblin, irregular meal. |
▪ II. scambling, ppl. a.
(ˈskæmblɪŋ)
[-ing2.]
† 1. Contentious, rapacious. Obs.
| 1599 Shakes. Much Ado v. i. 94, I know them,..Scambling out-facing, fashion-monging boyes. 1599 ― Hen. V, i. i. 4 The scambling and vnquiet time. a 1639 Wotton Life Buckingham (1642) 29 He was no sooner entred into the Town, but a scambling Souldier clapt hold of his bridle. 1691 New Disc. of Old Intreague xvi. 28 Whose regular noise,.. Some dreadful scambling combate did present. |
2. Clumsily or carelessly executed; slipshod, slovenly; makeshift. Also of a person: Blundering, bungling.
| 1589 Nashe Anat. Absurd. C j, Who is it, that reading Beuis of Hampton, can forbeare laughing, if he marke what scambling shyft he makes to ende his verses a like. 1599 Harsnet Discov. Fraud. Darrel 275 It is not likelie that the Diuell coulde bee dispossessed, by such almost priuate, slender, interrupted, and scambling prayers. 1653 H. More Antid. Ath. ii. vii. §5 (1712) 61 Or if you will say, that there may some scambling shift be made without them [etc.]. 1856 P. Thompson Hist. Boston 721 [Provincialisms.] You've made a scambling dinner, I fear. 1884 Rogers Six Cent. Work & Wages II. 412 The establishment of a rule that members of such unions would denounce and expose dishonest and scambling work. |
3. Irregular, rambling, scattered.
| 1592 W. Wyrley Armorie 67 The scambling chace eight leags endurd right, Ending almost at the gate of Reans. 1657 Owen Review Nat. Schism ix. 141 To declare the way of his exerting his Authority..is not a matter to be tossed up and down in this scambling chase. 1658 Evelyn Diary 27 Sept., To Bedington,..a fine old hall, but a scambling house. 1680 Morden Geog. Rect., Ganges Penins. 404 Her Capital City, which is large but scambling. 1702 D. Granville Rem. (Surtees) 241 Letters..to my scatter'd, scambling, and sometimes scabby sheep. 1786 tr. Sparrman's Voy. 324 Being..upon a plain under the shelter of a few scambling thorntrees. 1891 Reports Provinc. Dev. (E.D.D.) There wad'n on'y two or dree scamlin ones [sc. pheasants] down thick way. |
4. Straddling, shambling.
| 1633 Ford Love's Sacr. v. i, Can you imagine, Sir, the name of Duke Could make a crooked leg, a scambling foot,..fit for a Ladies pleasure, no. 1658 Rowland tr. Moufet's Theat. Ins. 952 The Gnat..hath six long crooked scambling legs..growing from his prominent breast. 1852 R. S. Surtees Sponge's Sp. Tour viii. 33 On horseback, Tom was a..hard-bitten little fellow.., while on foot he was the most shambling, scambling, crooked-going crab that ever was seen. |
Hence ˈscamblingly adv.
| 1611 Cotgr. s.v. Griffe, Griffe graffe, by hooke or by crooke,..scamblingly, catch that catch may. 1755 in Johnson. |