I. ˈraŋgəl, -aiŋ- verb
( wrangled ; wrangled ; wrangling -g(ə)liŋ ; wrangles )
Etymology: Middle English wranglen; akin to Low German wrangeln to wrangle, wrangen to struggle, wrestle, Middle English wringen to wring, twist, wrest — more at wring
intransitive verb
1. : to dispute angrily : quarrel peevishly and noisily : brawl , altercate , bicker
2. : to engage in argument, dispute, or controversy
solemn conclaves dignifiedly wrangled over proper compounding of herbs or incense — L.C.Douglas
transitive verb
1.
a. : to obtain by wrangling
started to wrangle one or two scholarships … for gifted children — Gertrude Samuels
b. : to influence or persuade by wrangling
c. : to waste or expend in wrangling
had been wrangling away their reserves — Bruce Marshall
2.
a. : to round up, corral, herd, and care for (as horses) : take charge of (a remuda)
wrangling cattle for a living
b. : direct and oversee the activities of (guests at a dude ranch)
on the lookout for some handsome, easy-talking gent to wrangle tenderfeet — F.B.Gipson
II. noun
( -s )
1. : an angry, bitter, noisy, or prolonged dispute or quarrel
emerged victorious in nasty wrangles with old guardists — Newsweek
2. : the action or process of wrangling : angry disputation : controversy
after an hour's wrangle , both of these disputes to go over until tomorrow — A.H.Vandenberg †1951
Synonyms: see quarrel