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Added 9 October 2026

wrangle

/ˈɹæŋɡəl/ noun

In Latin: altercor Wiktionary

noun Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about wrangle at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

An angry dispute.
they had a quarrel
An instance of intense argument (as in bargaining).

verb

To quarrel noisily, angrily or disruptively.
The bar keeper threw them out, but they continued to wrangle on down the street
Herd and care for.
wrangle horses

Origin

The verb is derived from Middle English wranglen, wrangle (“to contend with (someone) in a test of strength; (figuratively) to make misleading arguments to entrap”); from a Middle Dutch or Middle Low German word related to Middle Dutch wrangen and Middle Low German wrangen (“to cause an uproar; to struggle, wrestle”) (whence Low German wrangeln (“to wrangle”)), related to Middle Dutch wringen (“to twist; to wrest; to wring; to struggle, wrestle”), ultimately from Proto-Germanic *wringaną (“to squeeze; to twist; to wring”). The noun is derived from the verb. Cognates * Danish vringle (“to twist, entangle”) * German rangeln (“to wrestle”)

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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