Jostle

Part of speech: verb

Pronunciation: /ˈd͡ʒɒs.əl/

Definitions

1. To push or shove someone roughly or abruptly while in a crowd ; to compete or struggle forcefully for position, attention, or advantage
2. To move or knock against others in a busy or crowded space ; to contend vigorously with others for success or dominance
3. To bump, elbow, or shove against people nearby in a confined area ; to vie intensely against rivals to gain an upper hand or favor

Etymology: The verb "jostle" started out as a rougher, more intimate word than its modern sense suggests. Its earliest form, "justle", meant "to have sex with," and it grew from the Middle English "jousten," which came from the Old French "joster," meaning "to joust." The line of descent runs back to Latin "iuxtā," meaning "next to," a word that shares its root with "iungō," meaning "join" or "connect." Two things meeting side by side is the core idea that links a joust, a close embrace, and a crowd pressing shoulder to shoulder. The word's shift toward crowded, elbowing contact was gradual. A jousting knight was a figure of collision, so the verb's sense of bumping and striking against another person came naturally from its roots. Over time the sexual sense faded, and the word settled on the everyday meaning of pushing and shoving through a crowd, which is how it is used today.

Synonyms: shove, push, bump, prod, nudge

Antonyms: yield, give way, retreat, withdraw, avoid