shamble

• POS: Noun, Verb (intransitive)
• HYPHEN: sham=ble

CIDE DICTIONARY

shamble, n. [OE. schamel a bench, stool, AS. scamel, sceamol, a bench, form, stool, fr. L. scamellum, dim. of scamnum a bench, stool.].

•  One of a succession of niches or platforms, one above another, to hold ore which is thrown successively from platform to platform, and thus raised to a higher level.  [1913 Webster]
•  A place where butcher's meat is sold.  [1913 Webster]

  "As summer flies are in the shambles."  [1913 Webster]
•  A place for slaughtering animals for meat.  [1913 Webster]

  "To make a shambles of the parliament house."  [1913 Webster]

shamble, v. i. [Cf. OD. schampelen to slip, schampen to slip away, escape. Cf. Scamble, Scamper.].

 To walk awkwardly and unsteadily, as if the knees were weak; to shuffle along.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

shamble, v. & n.
--v.intr. walk or run with a shuffling or awkward gait.
--n. a shambling gait.

Etymology

prob. f. dial. shamble (adj.) ungainly, perh. f. shamble legs with ref. to straddling trestles: see SHAMBLES

THESAURUS

shamble

amble, andante, barge, bowl along, bundle, claudication, clump, crawl, creep, dead march, dogtrot, drag, droop, flounce, foot, footpace, footslog, funeral march, gait, gallop, halt, hippety-hop, hitch, hobble, hop, jog, jog trot, jolt, jump, leisurely gait, limp, lock step, lumber, lumbering pace, lunge, lurch, mince, mincing steps, pace, paddle, peg, piaffe, piaffer, plod, prance, rack, roll, sashay, saunter, scuff, scuffle, scuttle, shovel, shuffle, sidle, single-foot, skip, slink, slither, slog, slouch, slow march, slow motion, slowness, stagger, stalk, stamp, step, stomp, straddle, straggle, stride, stroll, strolling gait, strut, stump, swagger, swing, tittup, toddle, totter, traipse, tread, trip, trot, trudge, velocity, waddle, walk, wamble, wiggle, wobble

ROGET THESAURUS

shamble

Slowness

VB move slowly, creep, crawl, lag, slug, drawl, linger, loiter, saunter, plod, trudge, stump along, lumber, trail, drag, dawdle, grovel, worm one's way, steal along, job on, rub on, bundle on, toddle, waddle, wabble, slug, traipse, slouch, shuffle, halt, hobble, limp, caludicate, shamble, flag, falter, trotter, stagger, mince, step short, march in slow time, march in funeral procession, take one's time, hang fire, retard, relax, slacken, check, moderate, rein in, curb, reef, strike sail, shorten sail, take in sail, put on the drag, apply the brake, clip the wings, reduce the speed, slacken speed, slacken one's pace, lose ground.

Agitation

VB be agitated, shake, tremble, tremble like an aspen leaf, quiver, quaver, quake, shiver, twitter, twire, writhe, toss, shuffle, tumble, stagger, bob, reel, sway, wag, waggle, wriggle, wriggle like an eel, dance, stumble, shamble, flounder, totter, flounce, flop, curvet, prance, cavort, squirm, throb, pulsate, beat, palpitate, go pitapat, flutter, flitter, flicker, bicker, bustle, ferment, effervesce, foam, boil, boil over, bubble up, simmer, toss about, jump about, jump like a parched pea, shake like an aspen leaf, shake to its center, shake to its foundations, be the sport of the winds and waves, reel to and fro like a drunken man, move from post to pillar and from pillar to post, drive from post to pillar and from pillar to post, keep between hawk and buzzard, agitate, shake, convulse, toss, tumble, bandy, wield, brandish, flap, flourish, whisk, jerk, hitch, jolt, jog, joggle, jostle, buffet, hustle, disturb, stir, shake up, churn, jounce, wallop, whip, vellicate.