scuffle /ˈskʌfəl/noun 4verb 4forms 3 noun4 •A rough, disorderly fight or struggle at close quarters.The Dog leaps upon the Serpent, and Tears it to Pieces; but in the Scuffle the Cradle happen'd to be Overturn'd: […] — 1692 •A type of hoe, manipulated by both pushing and pulling, with a sharp blade parallel with the worked surface; an instance of this type. •(slang) Poverty; struggle.But even on the scuffle / The cleaner's press was in my jeans — 1975 •(no longer used) A child's pinafore or bib. verb4 •To fight or struggle confusedly at close quarters.Certainly a gallant man had rather fight to great disadvantages for number and place in the field in an orderly way, then scuffle with an undisciplined rabble. — 1648 •To walk with a shuffling gait. •(slang) To make a living with difficulty, getting by on a low income, to struggle financially. •To work the soil surface for weeding, etc. formsscuffled · scuffling · scuffles
