I. scuf ‧ fle 1 /ˈskʌf ə l/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
[ Date: 1500-1600 ; Origin: Probably from a Scandinavian language ]
a short fight that is not very violent SYN tussle :
Scuffles broke out between rival supporters during the match.
scuffle with/between
scuffles with police
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THESAURUS
■ when people hit or attack each other
▪ fight a situation in which people hit or attack each other because of an argument, or as a sport:
He had a fight with an older boy.
|
the famous fight between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman
▪ battle a fight between opposing armies or groups of people:
The English king was killed at the Battle of Hastings.
|
a battle between two rival gangs
▪ scuffle a short fight that is not very violent:
There was a short scuffle with the police, but no arrests were made.
▪ punch-up British English informal a fight in which people hit each other because of an argument:
The game turned into a punch-up.
▪ brawl a noisy fight between a group of people:
He was hurt in a drunken brawl.
▪ altercation formal a short noisy argument or fight, especially one that is not serious:
There was a brief altercation and someone called the police.
▪ riot a fight involving a large number of people, especially people who are protesting about something:
The book provoked riots all over Europe.
II. scuffle 2 BrE AmE verb [intransitive]
1 . to have a short fight with someone, in a way that is not very serious or violent
scuffle with
Some of the demonstrators scuffled with the police.
2 . [always + adverb/preposition] to walk quickly and make a noise as your feet rub on the ground