To write or mark something hastily all over a surface; to cover with messy writing.
From 'be-' + 'scrawl' (possibly from Scandinavian sources, related to 'scroll'). The prefix intensifies the meaning to suggest covering a surface completely with messy writing.
Writers throughout history have complained about 'bescrawled' manuscripts—pages covered edge-to-edge with rushed, messy handwriting. The word perfectly captures the frustration of trying to read someone's hasty notes!
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