noun / verb
tussle
TUS-ul/ˈtʌsl/
A brief struggle against someone or something.
The adults tussle, gripping each other's sleeves and pulling off balance.
Etymology
Repeated rough pulling or pushing underlies the verb's sense of scuffling or wrestling. The noun names such a struggle, extending from physical conflict to arguments.
In context
with a deep blood-stain on it," pursued Kennedy. "He said it clearly didn't belong to the murdered man, that it indicated that the murderer had himself been wounded in the tussle
More examples
- After a brief tussle, Maya got the ball back.
- The committee has a tussle over the final wording.
- He tussles with a stuck zipper before giving up.
Forms
tussle · tussles · tussled · tussling