Crawly
/ˈkrɔːli/noun
A word meaning creepy, unsettling, or causing a sensation of fear or revulsion.
Did you know?“Crawly” is a real English adjective built from the ancient idea of creeping or crawling, and English has long used movement words to describe fear, because dread was imagined as something that physically creeps over you.
Etymological Timeline
Old English
OE
crāwlian
“to crawl, creep along”
Middle English
ME
crawlen
“to crawl, creep”
Late Middle English
ME
crawli
“crawling; creeping, with a creepy sensation”
Modern English
English
crawly
“creepy, causing a sensation of unease or revulsion”