haggle

[ hag-uhl ]

verb (used without object)

, hag·gled, hag·gling.

1. to bargain in a petty, quibbling, and often contentious manner:

   They spent hours haggling over the price of fish.

2. to wrangle, dispute, or cavil:

   The senators haggled interminably over the proposed bill.

verb (used with object)

, hag·gled, hag·gling.

1. to mangle in cutting; hack.
2. to settle on by haggling.
3. Archaic. to harass with wrangling or haggling.

noun

1. the act of haggling; wrangle or dispute over terms.

haggle

/ ˈhæɡəl /

verb

1. introften foll byover to bargain or wrangle (over a price, terms of an agreement, etc); barter
2. rare.
   tr to hack

Derived Forms

• ˈhaggler, noun

Other Words From

• haggler noun
• un·haggled adjective
• un·haggling adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of haggle¹

1275–1325; Middle English haggen to cut, chop (< Old Norse hǫggva to hew ) + -le

Word History and Origins

Origin of haggle¹

C16: of Scandinavian origin; compare Old Norse haggva to hew

Example Sentences

Haggle over the numbers and details, attack the Senate for their failure to pass a budget, and then cut the best deal possible.

From The Daily Beast

Finally, the Hagel haggle highlighted a critical lesson for the pro-Israel community.

From The Daily Beast

The Republican rep wants lawmakers to extend the Bush tax cuts, and haggle over the rest later.

From The Daily Beast

We're just left to haggle over price: Should the successful pay forward 36% of their success or 39% or 28% or what.

From The Daily Beast

He would haggle in a bargain for a shilling, and economize in things beneath a wise man's notice or consideration.

From Project Gutenberg

After he had married her, he'd sell out this pile of junk and let somebody else haggle with the Injuns and cowpunchers.

From Project Gutenberg

To have to refuse one who has made you a gift of her beauty a trifling article; to haggle over such matters, like a miser!

From Project Gutenberg

Hence there was time for the United States to consider the question of a purchase and to haggle a little over the price.

From Project Gutenberg

Otherwise people would get silly ideas and begin to haggle over the price.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• bargain
• barter
• dicker
• quibble
• squabble
• wrangle