straggle
UK: ˈstræɡl | US: ˈstræɡl
vi. to wander or spread out in a scattered or irregular way
vi. to lag behind a group or fail to keep pace
vi. (of plants) to grow or spread untidily
"Straggle" emerged in late Middle English, possibly influenced by Old Norse or dialectal Germanic roots. The core idea of "straying" (stragg) combined with the frequentative suffix (-le) paints a vivid picture of scattered, irregular movement—whether describing lagging travelers or untidy plants. The word’s evolution reflects a blend of physical and metaphorical wandering.
Hikers who straggle behind risk getting lost in the dense forest.
Vines straggled across the garden wall, unchecked by pruning.
The herd moved steadily, but a few calves straggled at the rear.
Her thoughts straggled, making it hard to focus on the lecture.
The village houses straggle along the winding riverbank.