(krôl) v.i.
1. To move by thrusting one part of the body forward upon a surface and drawing the other part after, as a worm; creep.
2. To move slowly, feebly, or cautiously: A sick person crawls about.
3. To move or make progress meanly and insinuatingly; seek influence by servility.
4. To have a sensation as of crawling things upon the body.
5. To progress or grow by extending branches, etc., as a vine or creeping plant.
6. To be filled with things that crawl, as a dead body.
7. Colloq. To back down from a declared position.
—noun
1. The act of crawling; a creeping motion.
2. In swimming, a stroke made while lying face down, the arms being alternately thrust forward above the water.
—American crawl A crawl stroke which combines a six–beat flutter kick with each stroke.
—Australian crawl A crawl stroke which combines an eight–beat flutter kick with each stroke, the strokes being shorter than in the American crawl. [<ON krafla paw with the hands]
—crawl′er n.
—crawl′ing·ly adverb

(krôl) noun
A pen or enclosure in the water for containing fish, turtles, etc. [Alter. of Du. kraal. See KRAAL.]