Roughhouse

Part of speech: verb

Pronunciation: /ˈɹʌf.haʊs/

Definitions

1. To take part in lively and boisterous activities that involve disruptive horseplay or rough interactions with others
2. To participate in unruly and noisy play that often results in playful chaos or disturbance among friends
3. To engage in vigorous and noisy play that involves pushing, shoving, or wrestling in a playful manner

Etymology: "Roughhouse" is a plain compound of "rough" and "house," and its surprising part is the house. In its original sense, a "roughhouse" was a rowdy brawl or a disturbance in a place, and the earlier "house" in the phrase carried its ordinary meaning of a dwelling or building. The rough, boisterous play we mean today grew out of that image of a household turned into a melee. The verb developed from the noun, so to roughhouse meant to brawl or make a commotion, and the sense softened over time into the friendly horseplay of children and puppies wrestling on the floor. The shift from violence to playfulness is the main change in the word's meaning, and it is still visible in the way we use it.

Synonyms: brawl, scuffle, fight, fracas, tumult

Antonyms: calm, peace, serenity, harmony, tranquility