SCUFFLING

Verb

scuffling

present participle of scuffle

Noun

scuffling (plural scufflings)

a confused struggle

Source: Wiktionary

SCUFFLE

Scuf"fle, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Scuffled; p. pr. & vb. n. Scuffling.] Etym: [Freq. of scuff, v.i.; cf. Sw. skuffa to push, shove, skuff a push, Dan. skuffe a drawer, a shovel, and E. shuffle, shove. See Shove, and cf. Shuffle.]

1. To strive or struggle with a close grapple; to wrestle in a rough fashion.

2. 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.

Scuf"fle, n.

1. A rough, haphazard struggle, or trial of strength; a disorderly wrestling at close quarters.

2. 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.

3. A child's pinafore or bib. [Prov. Eng.]

4. A garden hoe. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition