Bedrabble

/bɪˈdræbəl/ verb

Definition

To drag through mud, water, or filth; to make wet and dirty; to stain or soil.

Etymology

Prefix 'be-' combined with 'drabble' (possibly from Dutch 'drabben' or Low German 'drabbeln'). The verb means to drag something through mire.

Kelly Says

Medieval and Renaissance writers loved 'bedrabble'—it's specific enough to paint a vivid picture of someone's fancy clothes literally dragging through gutter mud, which was common and humiliating.

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