tussle

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a vigorous physical struggle, scuffle, or contest

   A brief tussle broke out when both players reached for the ball.

2. 2
   verb

   to struggle or fight at close quarters or over a difficult issue

   The two committees tussle over control of the project each year.

Probably related to tousle, 'to handle roughly or disarrange,' and ultimately to the idea of pulling or struggling. The noun and verb have been used for confused close fighting since the nineteenth century.

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