tussle

UK: /ˈtʌs^əl/ US: /ˈtʌsəl/ ,(tus′əl)

Inflections of 'tussle' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

tussles

v 3rd person singular

tussling

v pres p

tussled

v past

tussled

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

tus•sle /ˈtʌsəl/   v., -sled, -sling, n. 
v. [no object]

1. to struggle roughly;
   wrestle;
   scuffle:
   They tussled on the playground.

n. [countable]

2. a rough physical contest or struggle;
   scuffle.
3. any strong or determined struggle, conflict, etc.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

tus•sle  (tus′əl), v., -sled, -sling, n. 
v.i. 

1. to struggle or fight roughly or vigorously;
   wrestle;
   scuffle.

n. 

2. a rough physical contest or struggle;
   scuffle.
3. any vigorous or determined struggle, conflict, etc.:
   I had quite a tussle with that chemistry exam.

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

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

tussle / ˈtʌs^əl/ verb

1. (intransitive) to fight or wrestle in a vigorous way; struggle

noun

1. a vigorous fight; scuffle; struggle

Etymology: 15th Century: related to Old High German zūsen; see tousle