Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

spraddle

verb
sprad·​dle | \ ˈspra-dᵊl How to pronounce spraddle (audio) \
spraddled; spraddling\ ˈsprad-​liŋ How to pronounce spraddling (audio) , ˈspra-​dᵊl-​iŋ \

Definition of spraddle

intransitive verb

1 : sprawl
2 : to go or walk with a straddling gait : straddle

transitive verb

1 : sprawl
2 : to spread (the legs) wide apart a duck with spraddled legs

First Known Use of spraddle

1632, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

History and Etymology for spraddle

perhaps blend of straddle and sprawl

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about spraddle

Statistics for spraddle

Look-up Popularity

Time Traveler for spraddle

The first known use of spraddle was in 1632

See more words from the same year

More from Merriam-Webster on spraddle

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with spraddle

Comments on spraddle

What made you want to look up spraddle? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

Show Comments  Hide Comments 

WORD OF THE DAY

inexorable

Listen to the pronounciation of inexorable

not to be persuaded, moved, or stopped

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Test Your Vocabulary

Words from Greek and Latin Quiz

  • roman forum
  • Which of the following months comes from a Latin word for “ten”?
How Strong Is Your Vocabulary?

Test your vocabulary with our 10-question quiz!

TAKE THE QUIZ
Citation

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play
Ask the Editors
Word Games