roughhouse

About 0.03 uses per million words.

Meaning

1. adjective Of behavior, rowdy, boisterous, or fighting.
2. noun Rowdy behavior.
3. verb To behave rowdily or violently. To play roughly (with physical roughness).

   Out in the street, some delinquents were roughhousing, until the police drove by.

4. verb To play roughly (with physical roughness).

   Out in the street, some delinquents were roughhousing, until the police drove by.

5. verb To commit physical assault.

   Out in the street, some delinquents were roughhousing, until the police drove by.

6. verb To treat (someone or something) roughly or violently.

   Out in the street, some delinquents were roughhousing a victim, until the police drove by.

Similar words

tussle punch roistering ongang ruckus ruff grabass gilravage ruction rough

Often followed by

with and play tactics in or games of on

Word family

roughhoused roughhouses roughhousing