scribbler

UK: /ˈskrɪblə/ US: (skrib′lər)

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

scrib•bler¹  (skrib′lər), n. 

1. a writer whose work has little or no value or importance.
2. a person who scribbles.

• scribble¹ + -er¹ 1545–55

scrib•bler²  (skrib′lər), n. 

1. a machine for scribbling wool fibers.

• scribble² + -er¹ 1675–85

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

scribbler / ˈskrɪblə/ noun

1. a writer of poetry, novels, journalism, etc

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

scrib•ble¹ /ˈskrɪbəl/   v., -bled, -bling, n. 
v. 

1. to write quickly and carelessly: [~ + object]
   to scribble a letter.
   [no object]
   scribbling in his notebook.

n. 

2. [countable] a hasty drawing or piece of writing.
3. [uncountable] handwriting that is hard to read.

scrib•bler, n. [countable] See -scrib-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

scrib•ble¹  (skrib′əl), v., -bled, -bling, n. 
v.t. 

1. to write hastily or carelessly:
   to scribble a letter.
2. to cover with meaningless writing or marks:
   to scribble all over a page.

v.i. 

3. to write or draw in a hasty or careless way.
4. to make meaningless marks, scrolls, lines, etc., with a pencil, pen, or the like.

n. 

5. a note or other writing that has little or no meaning.
6. a hasty or careless drawing or piece of writing.
7. handwriting, esp. when illegible.

• Medieval Latin scrībillāre to scribble, derivative of Latin scrībere to write; see shrive
• late Middle English scribblen (verb, verbal) 1425–75

scrib′bling•ly, adv. 

scrib•ble²  (skrib′əl), v.t., -bled, -bling. 

1. Textiles to tear apart (wool fibers) in the first stages of carding.

• Dutch schribbelen to scratch; cognate with schrobbelen to card wool coarsely, frequentative of schrobben to scrub¹
• 1675–85