Forms: see TUSSUR. v. [f. TUSSLE v. Rare in literary use before 19th c.] A vigorous or disorderly conflict; a severe struggle, a hard contest; a scuffle. a. in physical sense; † in quot. 1629, an assault (obs.).
1629. in Picton, L’pool Munic. Rec. (1883), I. 232. Wee present Hugh Houghton for a tusle upon Mr. Ballive Chantrell.
1749. Fielding, Tom Jones, IX. iv. I hate to see two people bear ill-will to one another, after they have had a tussel.
1818. Scott, Hrt. Midl., li, It is some comfort, when one has had a sair tussle … that it is in a fair leddy’s service.
1848. Clough, Bothie, I. 146. Where the life and the strength came out in the tug and the tussle.
1851. Borrow, Lavengro, lxxxii. (1893), 318. I put myself into a posture which I deemed the best both for offence and defence, and the tuzzle commenced.
1862. Smiles, Engineers, III. 31. There was a terrible tussle and worrying between the dogs.
b. in figurative sense: esp. a sharp and determined contention or dispute.
1857. Dickens, Lett. (1880), II. 23. I hope you have seen my tussle with the ‘Edinburgh’ [Review].
1883. C. F. Adams, College Fetich, 11. An experience in the tussle of life.
1884. Pall Mall G., 17 July, 2/1. The prospect of a tussle with the Peers.
