roughhouse

[ noun ruhf-hous; verb ruhf-hous, -houz ]

/ noun ˈrʌfˌhaʊs; verb ˈrʌfˌhaʊs, -ˌhaʊz /

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noun, plural rough·hous·es [ruhf-hou-ziz] /ˈrʌfˌhaʊ zɪz/.

rough, disorderly playing, especially indoors.

verb (used without object), rough·housed [ruhf-houst, -houzd] /ˈrʌfˌhaʊst, -ˌhaʊzd/, rough·hous·ing [ruhf-hou-sing, -zing] /ˈrʌfˌhaʊ sɪŋ, -zɪŋ/.

to engage in rough, disorderly play.

verb (used with object), rough·housed [ruhf-houst, -houzd] /ˈrʌfˌhaʊst, -ˌhaʊzd/, rough·hous·ing [ruhf-hou-sing, -zing] /ˈrʌfˌhaʊ sɪŋ, -zɪŋ/.

to handle roughly but with playful intent: to roughhouse the cat.

Nearby words

roughage, roughback, roughcast, roughen, rougher, roughhouse, roughie, roughing mill, roughing-in, roughish, roughly

Origin of roughhouse

An Americanism dating back to 1885–90; rough + house

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for rough-house

You lost your temper here once before, and while I dont say I blame you, the rough-house with Elton didnt improve your case any.
The Bail Jumper|Robert J. C. Stead
Well, was it true—no, I mean, was Kit right—did you go there to rough-house his room that night?
Deering of Deal|Latta Griswold
In about two seconds there was the biggest kind of a rough-house.
Owen Clancy's Happy Trail|Burt L. Standish
If they all showed themselves you would be apt to know them later when they started in with their rough-house business.
Great Hike|Alan Douglas

“Hold on, fellows—wait—no rough-house yet—wait,” ordered Dale.
The Young Pitcher|Zane Grey

British Dictionary definitions for rough-house

roughhouse

/ (ˈrʌfˌhaʊs) slang /

noun

rough, disorderly, or noisy behaviour

verb

to treat (someone) in a boisterous or rough way

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012