Scurry

Scurry is a verb meaning to move quickly with short, hurried steps. It is commonly used to describe quick, irregular motion by small animals, children, or people who move in bursts rather than with a steady pace. The term emphasizes speed and a lack of deliberate, sustained motion.

As a noun, scurry refers to a brief, rapid movement or scramble. People might speak of a “scurry to the door” or describe a group of animals making a frantic scurry to find cover. The word is versatile in narrative writing, where it can convey urgency and chaos without specifying a long or strenuous effort.

The origin of scurry is not definitively documented, but it appears in English from the early modern period. The etymology is uncertain, and some scholars consider it onomatopoeic, reflecting the rapid, skittering sound associated with quick footfalls. Because of its informal tone, scurry is often preferred in everyday speech over more formal terms like sprint or dash.

In usage, scurry carries a sense of immediacy and lightness; it suggests quick, short movements rather than endurance running. Synonyms include scamper, dart, sprint, and hurry, while the related noun form retains a focus on the action’s brevity. Scurry remains common in both descriptive writing and casual conversation when rapid, small-scale motion is being depicted.