roughhouse

American  

[ruhf-hous, ruhf-hous, -houz] / ˈrʌfˌhaʊs, ˈrʌfˌhaʊs, -ˌhaʊz /

noun

roughhouses plural

1. rough, disorderly playing, especially indoors.

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verb (used without object)

roughhoused, roughhousing

1. to engage in rough, disorderly play.

verb (used with object)

roughhoused, roughhousing

1. to handle roughly but with playful intent.

   to roughhouse the cat.

roughhouse British  

/ ˈrʌfˌhaʊs /

noun

1. rough, disorderly, or noisy behaviour

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verb

1. to treat (someone) in a boisterous or rough way

Etymology

Origin of roughhouse

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

Example Sentences

The elves roughhouse them down a slide that definitely doesn't appear to be up to code.

From Salon • Dec. 13, 2022

Panasiuk said he may have inherited his innately calm personality from his mother, Jolanta Panasiuk, who was never fazed by her sons’ roughhouse fights.

From Washington Post • Aug. 24, 2022

Mauro Bellugi pestered Brooking in the roughhouse style.

From The Guardian • Jul. 11, 2021

He told his uncle that he didn’t talk when he wasn’t supposed to, didn’t roughhouse, that he helped pick up things from the floor and helped the teacher pass out papers.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 4, 2019

Of course Betsie had always seemed older because she couldn’t run and roughhouse the way other children did.

From "The Hiding Place" by Corrie ten Boom