In 5–6 stragill, -yll. [f. STRAGGLE v.1]
† 1. Phr. At, to (the) straggle, in straggling order. Sc. Obs.
c. 1470. Henry, Wallace, X. 683. At stragyll raid quhat Scot mycht formest pas. Ibid., 699. The frayit folk, at stragill that was fleand.
1513. Douglas, Æneis, XII. xi. 4. A few menȝe persewand our the plane, Quhilk at the stragill fled in all thar mane.
1549. Diurn. Occurr. (Bannatyne Club), 49. Thaj tarijt nocht, bot past away with all spulȝie thaj mycht get. The Scottis followit thame to the stragill.
2. A body or group of scattered objects; an irregular or fitful emergence (of something).
1865. Carlyle, Fredk. Gt., XIX. vi. V. 539. Here are some private utterances of his, throwing a straggle of light on those points. Ibid. (1869), in Mrs. Carlyle, Lett., I. 266. With a considerable straggle of audience, I found this artist industriously fiddling.
1906. F. S. Oliver, Alex. Hamilton, III. vi. 238. Where now there is but a thin straggle of stunted trees.
