touse

[ touz; Scots tooz, toos ]

verb (used with object),toused, tous·ing.
  1. to handle roughly; dishevel.

verb (used without object),toused, tous·ing.
  1. to struggle; tussle.

noun
  1. a commotion; rumpus.

Origin of touse

1
1250–1300; Middle English -t(o)usen, in betusen, fortusen to handle roughly (simple verb first recorded in the early 16th century); cognate with Old Frisian tūsen to rend, German zausen to tousle

Words Nearby touse

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use touse in a sentence