Rasslin

Part of speech: verb, noun

Definitions

1. Grappling with an opponent in a contest of strength and holds, the informal way of saying wrestling ; struggling hard to deal with a difficult problem or task
2. Locking bodies with an opponent in a sport of holds and throws, as a casual pronunciation of the word ; wrestling with a challenge or difficulty that demands sustained effort
3. Taking part in a bout of close holds and takedowns in the colloquial sense ; contending doggedly with a tough issue or a hard-to-solve problem

Etymology: "Rasslin" is a dialect and informal spelling of "wrestling," with the dropped final consonant and the "-in" ending that marks casual or rural speech. The sound was never a separate word in its own right; it is simply the way "wrestling" was pronounced in many speakers' mouths, and the spelling records that pronunciation rather than a different origin. The original word is "wrestle," from Old English "wrǣstlian," meaning to struggle or wrestle, closely related to "wrǣstan," to twist. The idea of twisting an opponent's limbs gave the sport its name, and the "-ing" ending in "wrestling" marks the noun or gerund form. Spellings like "rasslin" are a later attempt to show casual speech, especially in American English, where they became associated with professional entertainment.

Synonyms: wrestling