Scuffle

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -ÊŒfÉ™l

Origin

Possibly of Scandinavia origin. Compare skuff ("a push") and skuffa ("to push"), from the base *skuf- (skuƀ).

Noun

1. A rough disorderly fight or struggle at close quarters
• L'EstrangeThe dog leaps upon the serpent, and tears it to pieces; but in the scuffle the cradle happened to be overturned.
2. A Dutch hoe, manipulated by both pushing and pulling
3. (archaic) A child's pinafore or bib.

Synonyms

• (Dutch hoe) scuffle hoe

Full definition of scuffle

Verb

1. (intransitive) To fight or struggle confusedly at close quarters.
• Eikon BasilikeA gallant man had rather fight to great disadvantage in the field, in an orderly way, than scuffle with an undisciplined rabble.
2. (intransitive) To walk with a shuffling gait.
3. (slang) To make a living with difficulty, getting by on a low income, to struggle financially.