scuffle
noun
[ ˈskʌf(ə)l ]
• a short, confused fight or struggle at close quarters.
• "there were minor scuffles with police"
Similar:
fight,
struggle,
tussle,
brawl,
fracas,
rumpus,
melee,
free-for-all,
rough and tumble,
scrimmage,
disturbance,
brouhaha,
commotion,
donnybrook,
affray,
scrap,
dust-up,
punch-up,
set-to,
shindy,
afters,
roughhouse,
• an act or sound of moving in a hurried, confused, or shuffling manner.
• "he heard the scuffle of feet"
scuffle
verb
• engage in a short, confused fight or struggle at close quarters.
• "the teacher noticed two pupils scuffling in the corridor"
Similar:
fight,
struggle,
tussle,
exchange blows,
come to blows,
brawl,
grapple,
clash,
scrimmage,
scrap,
have a dust-up,
have a punch-up,
have a set-to,
roughhouse,
• move in a hurried, confused, or awkward way, making a rustling or shuffling sound.
• "a drenched woman scuffled through the doorway"
Origin:
late 16th century (as a verb): probably of Scandinavian origin; compare with Swedish skuffa ‘to push’; related to shove and shuffle.
