tussle
[ tuhs-uh l ]
/ ˈtʌs əl /
verb (used without object), tus·sled, tus·sling.
to struggle or fight roughly or vigorously; wrestle; scuffle.
noun
a rough physical contest or struggle; scuffle.
any vigorous or determined struggle, conflict, etc.: I had quite a tussle with that chemistry exam.
RELATED WORDS
brawl, scuffle, strife, fray, skirmish, free-for-all, tangle, wrestle, roughhouse, clash, combat, contest, undertaking, scrap, fight, rumble, jam, hassle, encounter, grind
Nearby words
- tussiculation,
- tussie-mussie,
- tussis,
- tussive,
- tussive fremitus,
- tussock,
- tussock caterpillar,
- tussock grass,
- tussock moth,
- tussocky
Origin of tussle
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for tussle
tussle
/ (ˈtʌsəl) /
verb
(intr) to fight or wrestle in a vigorous way; struggle
noun
a vigorous fight; scuffle; struggle
Word Origin for tussle
C15: related to Old High German zūsen; see tousle
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
tussle
late 15c., Scottish and northern English variant of touselen (see tousle). Related: Tussled; tussling. The noun is first recorded 1620s but rare before 19c.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper