tussle

[tuhs-uh l]

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.

Origin of tussle

1425–75; late Middle English (north and Scots) tusillen, derivative (see -le) of tusen to touse

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

Related Words for tussling

brawl, scuffle, strife, fray, skirmish, free-for-all, tangle, wrestle, roughhouse, clash, combat, contest, undertaking, scrap, fight, rumble, jam, hassle, encounter, grind

Examples from the Web for tussling

Contemporary Examples of tussling

“He has been tussling with the decision to run for the presidency,” says a Western diplomat.
The General Who Would Be President
Jamie Dettmer
January 27, 2014
Then we get Eric Cantor tussling with the next President Clinton.
The Senate's Immigration Vote
Michael Tomasky
June 25, 2013
Obama is going to spend the summer pushing, and the Senate tussling over, those.
Obama: Finally Ready to Fight?
Michael Tomasky
May 30, 2013

Historical Examples of tussling

They were tussling together, and we flung ourselves on them and separated them.
The Trail of '98
Robert W. Service
In tussling with Lew I had gotten blood on my coat, pants, and shirt.
The Criminal Imbecile
Henry Herbert Goddard
Mallory and the big deputy stood with their backs to the Treasurer's door, tussling with three burly ruffians.
The Short Line War
Samuel Merwin
So, my boy, that is why I keep you tussling with cross-country work while the others are on the track.
For the Honor of the School
Ralph Henry Barbour
Whilst we were tussling I slipped in a cartridge and pulled the trigger—the muzzle was against his breast, and he fell dead.
The Strand Magazine - Vol. 1 - No. 5 - May 1891
Various

British Dictionary definitions for tussling

tussle

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

Word Origin and History for tussling

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.