tousle

Or tou·zle

[tou-zuhl]

verb (used with object)

tousled, tousling 

1. to disorder or dishevel.

   The wind tousled our hair.

2. to handle roughly.

noun

1. a disheveled or rumpled mass, especially of hair.

2. a disordered, disheveled, or tangled condition.

tousle

/ ˈtaʊzəl /

verb

1. to tangle, ruffle, or disarrange

2. to treat roughly

noun

1. a disorderly, tangled, or rumpled state

2. a dishevelled or disordered mass, esp of hair

Word History and Origins

Origin of tousle¹

1400–50; late Middle English touselen (v.); cognate with Low German tūseln. See touse, -le

Word History and Origins

Origin of tousle¹

C15: from Low German tūsen to shake; related to Old High German zirzūsōn to tear to pieces

Example Sentences

With an open smile, he reached out and tousled the children’s heads till they too were cheerful again.

Read more on Literature

“The Incorrigibles have very strikingly colored hair,” she said thoughtfully, gazing down at the three tousled heads.

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“She has expensive taste,” Nelson laughed, kneeling down to tousle Sadie’s fur.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Hine’s tousled little boy, who looks forlornly into the camera with scowling dark eyes beneath a furrowed brow, likely had no such liberating choice.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

"You tousle its mane and pull its ears, but all the time you’re thinking, those claws, those claws, those claws."

Read more on BBC