What does "scuffle" mean?
Scuffle: Hence, to strive or contend tumultuously; to struggle confusedly or at haphazard. A gallant man had rather fight to great disadvantage in the field, in an orderly way, than scuffle with an undisciplined rabble. Eikon Basilike.
Additional senses
- 2.A rough, haphazard struggle, or trial of strength; a disorderly wrestling at close quarters.
- 3.Hence, a confused contest; a tumultuous struggle for superiority; a fight. The dog leaps upon the serpent, and tears it to pieces; but in the scuffle the cradle happened to be overturned. L'Estrange.
- 4.A child's pinafore or bib. [Prov. Eng.]
- 5.A garden hoe. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.
Sources
- Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913 edition (public domain, via GCIDE / Project Gutenberg).
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- Published: 2026-07-17T00:00:00-07:00 · Modified: 2026-07-17T00:00:00-07:00