scuffle

American  

[skuhf-uhl] / ˈskʌf əl /

verb (used without object)

scuffled, scuffling

1. to struggle or fight in a rough, confused manner.

2. to go or move in hurried confusion.

3. to move or go with a shuffle; scuff.

---

noun

1. a rough, confused struggle or fight.

   Synonyms:

   row , tussle , scrap

2. a shuffling.

   a scuffle of feet.

3. Also called scuffle hoe.  a spadelike hoe that is pushed instead of pulled.

4. (in tap dancing) a forward and backward movement of the foot.

scuffle ¹ British  

/ ˈskʌfəl /

verb

1. to fight in a disorderly manner

2. to move by shuffling

3. to move in a hurried or confused manner

---

noun

1. a disorderly struggle

2. the sound made by scuffling or shuffling

scuffle ² British  

/ ˈskʌfəl /

noun

1. a type of hoe operated by pushing rather than pulling

---

Other Word Forms

• scuffler noun
• scufflingly adverb

Etymology

Origin of scuffle

First recorded in 1570–80; scuff, -le

Example Sentences

Despite some minor scuffles as the remaining Villa fans went into the ground, West Midlands Police said the night had "passed without major incident, with no serious disorder and no disruption to the game".

From BBC

A major scuffle between several players lit the fuse on a frenetic opening to proceedings, with England's Young and Australia's Tino Fa'asuamaleaui sin-binned for their involvement with barely three minutes on the clock.

From BBC

Then, the Dodgers got to work on their primary task: Trying to sync up an offense that had looked lost the last two games, and has scuffled through much of October.

From Los Angeles Times

The two players scuffled briefly, with Smith-Schuster losing his helmet and ending up back on the ground, as other players and coaches tried to intervene.

From Los Angeles Times

The Metropolitan Police said it had made a small number of arrests after a "scuffle" broke out between the two groups.

From BBC

Related Words

• brawl
• commotion
• disturbance
• fracas
• ruckus
• strife
• tussle
• wrangle