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scrabble

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)

Origin: Freq. Of scrape. Cf. Scramble, Scrawl.