tussle
noun
[ ˈtʌs(ə)l ]
• a vigorous struggle or scuffle, typically in order to obtain or achieve something.
• "there was a tussle for the ball"
Similar:
scuffle,
fight,
struggle,
skirmish,
brawl,
scrimmage,
scramble,
scrum,
fisticuffs,
wrestling match,
rough and tumble,
free-for-all,
fracas,
fray,
rumpus,
melee,
disturbance,
donnybrook,
affray,
scrap,
dust-up,
punch-up,
set-to,
shindy,
shindig,
run-in,
spat,
ruck,
ruckus,
ding-dong,
bust-up,
bit of argy-bargy,
afters,
rammy,
swedge,
roughhouse,
stoush,
broil,
miff,
argument,
quarrel,
squabble,
contretemps,
disagreement,
contention,
clash,
war of words,
row,
tussle
verb
• engage in a vigorous struggle or scuffle.
• "the kids tussled with each other"
Similar:
scuffle,
fight,
struggle,
exchange blows,
come to blows,
brawl,
grapple,
wrestle,
clash,
scrimmage,
scrap,
have a dust-up,
have a punch-up,
have a set-to,
roughhouse,
Origin:
late Middle English (as a verb, originally Scots and northern English): perhaps a diminutive of dialect touse ‘handle roughly’ (see tousle).
