tussle

²tussle

verb

tus·sledtus·sling\-s(ə-)liŋ\

Definition of TUSSLE

intransitive verb

: to struggle roughly : scuffle

Examples of TUSSLE

1. The two basketball players tussled for the ball.
2. The residents of the neighborhood tussled with city hall for years about the broken parking meters.

Origin of TUSSLE

Middle English (Scots) tussillen, frequentative of Middle English -tusen, -tousen to tousle — more at touse

First Known Use: 1638

Related to TUSSLE

Synonyms: grapple, rassle, scuffle, wrestle

Related Words: battle, clash (with), combat, contend, duel, fight, war (against); bash, batter, beat, buffet, hit, punch, slug, strike; box, spar; brawl, skirmish

[+]more[-]hide

Rhymes with TUSSLE

bustle, hustle, muscle, rustle