drawl
11
8.1
- noun
- /drɔl/
:
habla arrastrada
- I would feel the sound of that southern drawl embrace me in a close way when only words were possible.
- a southern drawl
Examples
-
I could hear him say it, his soft Southern drawl like a cool breeze across my eardrums.
Fiction book (1991) -
We hear Johnson's distinctive Texas drawl, but we never see him.
Fiction book (1991) -
How long has he had that drawl?
-
His voice, loud as always, carried his New Mexico drawl across the plaza.
Fiction book (2002) -
His voice had that easy drawl, part of his cool persona, like his smile.
Fiction book (2000) -
"Jefferson T. Corbell's soft Georgia drawl cut through the murmurs of agreement from everybody else around the table.
Fiction book (1996) -
Why can't she muster the necessary drawl, the curling of the tongue to make her words more easily understood?
Fiction book (2000) -
Strout spoke in the professorial drawl he adopted when reciting undisputed facts on the witness stand.
Fiction book (1999) -
His intonations were Garden District—a slight weary drawl, like a man on the verge of sleep.
Fiction book (2001) -
He spoke in a slow, lazy drawl that made everyone listen carefully.
How Fast
1
9.3
11
8.1
Surface Forms
Etymology
Drawl comes from the simple verb draw, which means 'to pull', plus a small ending -le that makes the action last. So a drawl is like 'pulling out' the sounds of speech, which is why it feels slow and stretched.