English edit

Etymology edit

From a modern frequentative form of draw, equivalent to draw +‎ -le. Compare draggle. Compare also Dutch dralen (to drag out, delay, linger, tarry, dawdle), Old Danish dravle (to linger, loiter), Icelandic dralla (to loiter, linger).

Pronunciation edit

Rhymes: -ɔːl

Verb edit

drawl (third-person singular simple present drawls, present participle drawling, simple past and past participle drawled)

  1. (transitive) To drag on slowly and heavily; to while or dawdle away time indolently.
  2. (transitive) To utter or pronounce in a dull, spiritless tone, as if by dragging out the utterance.
  3. (intransitive) To move slowly and heavily; move in a dull, slow, lazy manner.
  4. (intransitive) To speak with a slow, spiritless utterance, from affectation, laziness, or lack of interest.

Translations edit

Noun edit

drawl (plural drawls)

  1. A way of speaking slowly while lengthening vowel sounds and running words together. Characteristic of some Southern US accents, as well as Broad Australian, Broad New Zealand and Scots.

Derived terms edit

Translations edit

See also edit