JOSTLE

jostle, jostling

(noun) the act of jostling (forcing your way by pushing)

jostle, shove

(verb) come into rough contact with while moving; “The passengers jostled each other in the overcrowded train”

jostle

(verb) make one’s way by jostling, pushing, or shoving; “We had to jostle our way to the front of the platform”

Source: WordNet® 3.1


Etymology

Verb

jostle (third-person singular simple present jostles, present participle jostling, simple past and past participle jostled)

(ambitransitive) To bump into or brush against while in motion; to push aside.

(intransitive) To move through by pushing and shoving.

(transitive) To be close to or in physical contact with.

(intransitive) To contend or vie in order to acquire something.

(dated, slang) To pick or attempt to pick pockets.

Noun

jostle (plural jostles)

The act of jostling someone or something; push, shove.

The action of a jostling crowd.

Source: Wiktionary


Jos"tle, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Jostled; p. pr. & vb. n. Jostling.] Etym: [A dim. of joust, just, v. See Joust, and cf. Justle.] [Written also justle.]

Definition: To run against and shake; to push out of the way; to elbow; to hustle; to disturb by crowding; to crowd against. "Bullies jostled him." Macaulay. Systems of movement, physical, intellectual, and moral, which are perpetually jostling each other. I. Taylor.

Jos"tle, v. i.

Definition: To push; to crowd; to hustle. None jostle with him for the wall. Lamb.

Jos"tle, n.

Definition: A conflict by collisions; a crowding or bumping together; interference. The jostle of South African nationalities and civilization. The Nation.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition



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Word of the Day

29 May 2025

CRITICAL

(adjective) characterized by careful evaluation and judgment; “a critical reading”; “a critical dissertation”; “a critical analysis of Melville’s writings”


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Coffee Trivia

In 1511, leaders in Mecca believed coffee stimulated radical thinking and outlawed the drink. In 1524, the leaders overturned that order, and people could drink coffee again.

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