to bump, push, shove, brush against, or elbow roughly or rudely.
to drive or force by, or as if by, pushing or shoving: The crowd jostled him into the subway.
to exist in close contact or proximity with: The three families jostle each other in the small house.
to contend with: rival gangs continually jostling each other.
to unsettle; disturb: The thought jostled her complacency.
Slang. to pick the pocket of.
verb (used without object),jos·tled,jos·tling.
to bump or brush against someone or something, as in passing or in a crowd; push or shove (often followed by with, for, or against): He jostled for position.
to exist in close contact or proximity with someone or something.
to compete; contend.
Slang. to pick pockets.
noun
a shock, push, bump, or brush against someone or something.
1540s, justle, "to knock against," formed from jousten (see joust) + frequentative suffix -tle. The usual spelling 17c.-18c. was justle. An earlier meaning of the word was "to have sex with" (c.1400). Meaning "to contend for the best position or place" is from 1610s. Related: Jostled; jostling. As a noun from c.1600.
