Merriam-Webster's Collegiate® Dictionary, 11th Edition
CRAWL
I. verb
Etymology: Middle English, from Old Norse krafla
Date: 14th century
intransitive verb to move slowly in a prone position without or as if without the use of limbs , to move or progress slowly or laboriously , to advance by guile or servility , to spread by extending stems or tendrils ,
5. to be alive or swarming with or as if with creeping things , to have the sensation of insects creeping over one , to fail to stay evenly spread, transitive verb to move upon in or as if in a creeping manner , to reprove harshly ,
II. noun
Date: 1818
1. the act or action of crawling, slow or laborious progress, a going from one pub to another, a fast swimming stroke executed in a prone position with alternating overarm strokes and a flutter kick, lettering that moves vertically or horizontally across a television or motion-picture screen to give information (as performer credits or news bulletins)