wrestle

Alternative forms

• wrassle (eye dialect)

Etymology

From Middle English wrestlen, wrastlen (also as wraxlen), from Old English wræstlian, wraxlian (“to contend, wrestle”); corresponding to wrest +‎ -le. Cognate with Saterland Frisian wrosselje (“to contend, wrestle”), West Frisian wrakselje (“to wrestle”), Middle Dutch wrastelen (“to wrestle”), Middle Low German wrostelen (“to wrestle”).

Pronunciation

• Audio (US)

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• Rhymes: -ɛsəl

Noun

wrestle (plural wrestles)

1. A wrestling bout.
2. A struggle.

Verb

wrestle (third-person singular simple present wrestles, present participle wrestling, simple past and past participle wrestled)

1. (intransitive) To contend, with an opponent, by grappling and attempting to throw, immobilize or otherwise defeat him, depending on the specific rules of the contest
2. (intransitive) To struggle or strive
3. (transitive) To take part in a wrestling match with someone
4. (transitive) To move or lift something with difficulty
5. (transitive) To throw a calf etc in order to brand it
6. (transitive) To fight

Anagrams

• Lewters, Welters, swelter, welters