wrestlingn.
/ˈrɛslɪŋ/, /ˈrɛsl̩ɪŋ/, U.S. /ˈrɛs(ə)lɪŋ/ 1.
a. The action or exercise of two persons grappling or gripping in a contest of strength and adroitness, the one endeavouring to throw the other by tripping or overbalancing him; the fact of contending or throwing in this manner. Also in figurative context.
Π
a1100 in A. S. Napier Old Eng. Glosses 122/1 Palestram, wræstlunge.
a1250 Owl & Nightingale 795 Ȝif tueie men goþ to wraslinge.
c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1963) l. 937 Þer wes muchel folc at þere wrastlinge [c1300 Otho wraxlinge].
a1300 Cursor Mundi 28526 At wrestelyng, at wake, rengd haf i.
c1330 Arth. & Merl. 8873 What wiþ wristling, wat wiþ togging.
c1405 (c1387–95) G. Chaucer Canterbury Tales Prol. (Hengwrt) (2003) l. 550 Ouer al ther he cam At wrastlynge he wolde haue alwey the Ram.
c1425 Wyntoun Cron. i. vi. 356 To se how þat this Coryne Wald deil wiþ him in wresslyne.
1490 W. Caxton tr. Foure Sonnes of Aymon (1885) xiv. 350 He..caught the kynge..by the waast in maner of wrastelynge.
1539 T. Elyot Castel of Helthe (new ed.) 50 b Wrastlyng also with the armes and legges..dothe exercise the one and the other.
1555 J. Heywood Two Hundred Epigrammes with Thyrde sig. Ciii The weaker hath the worse, in wrestlyng alway.
1613 T. Dekker Strange Horse-race sig. B4 There could I describe what warlike Races the Winds held with the Waters: their Wrastling, Running, Retiring.
1644 J. Milton Of Educ. 7 They must be also practiz'd in all the locks and gripes of wrastling.
1701 J. Collier tr. Marcus Aurelius Conversat. with Himself vii. lxii. 125 The right Knack of Living, resembles Wrastling more than Dancing.
1769 W. Buchan Domest. Med. ii. 126 The fatal effects of carrying great weights, running, wrestling, &c.
1801 J. Strutt Glig-gamena Angel-ðeod ii. 64 The wrestling is only practised on the afternoon of St. Bartholomew's day.
1850 F. D. Maurice Moral & Metaphysical Philos. (ed. 2) I. 126 Some say that Plato..gained a prize for wrestling at the Isthmian games.
1901 W. Churchill Crisis ii. vi. 162 He an' de Colonel done commence wrastlin' 'bout a man name o' Linkum [sc. Lincoln].
1930 Amer. Speech 5 494 Did any boy of the latter part of the last century ever wrestle? Ozarkers are not peculiar in their rasseling.
1975 New Yorker 1 Sept. 21/3 Mr. Hayes betrayed this when he mispronounced ‘wrestling’; he called it ‘wrestling’. Most self-respecting promoters, like Sid Morse, of Saginaw, Michigan, know that the correct pronunciation is ‘rasslin’.
1976 L. Deighton Twinkle, twinkle, Little Spy xiii. 133 Crude Yankee wrassling, was it? Not the kind of cricket you play at Lord's?
b. With the. The sport of grappling and throwing; a contest in wrestling; a wrestling-match.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > fighting sports > wrestling > [noun]
wraxlingc1000
wrestling?c1225
warslinga1450
palaestraa1500
wrestle1593
?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 236 Ich..biheold hit oðer wrestlung. oðer fol gomenes.
1297 R. Gloucester's Chron. (Rolls) 517 Þe wrastlinge bitvene hom was somdel toȝt.
c1330 R. Mannyng Chron. Wace (Rolls) 1800 On a clyf faste by þe se Þe wrastlyng was ordeyned to be.
c1400 Gamelyn 190 Towardes þe wrasteling þe yong childe rode.
c1450 How Good Wijf (Lamb. 853) in Babees Bk. (2002) i. 40 Go not to þe wrastelinge, ne to schotynge at cok.
1518 in I. S. Leadam Select Cases Star Chamber (1911) II. 154 The wrestlyng at Seynt Jamys tide.
1598 J. Stow Suruay of London 438 This yeare was a great fray at the Wrastling.
1661 S. Pepys Diary 28 June (1970) II. 127 Went to Moore-fields..and saw the wrestling..between the North and West countrymen.
1725 W. Broome in A. Pope et al. tr. Homer Odyssey II. viii. 104 None in the leap spring with so strong a bound, Or firmer, in the wrestling, press the ground.
1843 Penny Cycl. XXVII. 588/1 Leaping and running..generally accompany the wrestling as prize games.
1893 J. Robinson & S. Gilpin Wrestling 189 He went..to Newcastle, and won the wrestling there.
c. With a and plural. A wrestling-bout or match.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > fighting sports > wrestling > [noun] > bout
thro1303
wrestling1303
pulla1400
fall1597
wrestling pull1602
wrestle1670
wrestling-matcha1684
warslec1811
1303 R. Mannyng Handlyng Synne 992 Ȝyf þou euer settyst swerde eyþer ryng For to gadyr a wrastlyng.
1303 R. Mannyng Handlyng Synne 8987 Karolles, wrastlynges, or somour games.
c1400 Gamelyn 171 Ther was ther be siden cried a wrastelynge.
c1450 Jacob's Well (1900) 291 Leuyth ȝoure rennyng on holy-dayes to wrestelynges, markettys, & feyris.
c1450 J. Capgrave Life St. Gilbert 65 Thei..vsed not to renne to wrastillingis, ber~baytingis and swech oþir onthrifty occupaciones.
1556 in J. G. Nichols Chron. Grey Friars (1852) 6 Thys yere was one John Norwelde..slayne at Blackehethe at a wrestlynge.
1578 H. Wotton tr. J. Yver Courtlie Controuersie 37 Great preparation was made of stage plays,..wrastlings, and other infinite pastymes.
?1611 G. Chapman tr. Homer Iliads xxiii. 610 Pelides then set forth Prize for a wrastling.
1683 in F. P. Verney & M. M. Verney Mem. Verney Family 17th Cent. (1904) II. 339 Where the wrestlings are used to be in Lincoln's Inn fields.
1893 J. Robinson & S. Gilpin Wrestling 11 [He] stood unrivalled in all the wrestlings.
2. in extended use.1610 P. Holland tr. W. Camden Brit. i. 279 The river having with a great turning compasse after much wrestling, gotten out towards the North.1654 R. Codrington tr. Justinus Hist. iv. 74 This concurse and wrastling of the water.figurative.1534 T. More Treat. Passion in Wks. 1347/1 Hys catholike faythe..euer continue shal whyle this worlde last, what wrestlyng soeuer the infideles shall make with it.1639 S. Du Verger tr. J.-P. Camus Admirable Events 227 How unequall is the wrastling between reason and passion in a weake spirit.1849 F. W. Robertson Serm. (1866) 1st Ser. iii. 45 Language which describes the wrestling of the soul.1872 J. Morley Voltaire i. 2 Life as a long wrestling with unseen and invincible forces of grace.figurative.1599 T. Nashe Lenten Stuffe 35 Which it will be no impeachment for the wisest to turne loose for a trueth, without any diffident wrastling with it.
a. The action of striving or contending, maintenance of resistance, opposition, or strife, on the part of persons.
ΘΠ
the world > action or operation > endeavour > [noun] > striving or struggling
wrestlingc890
wragging?c1225
wraggling?c1225
strugglingc1386
straining1580
contention1583
strift1612
strifea1616
striving?1615
stickle1652
agonism1688
strain1693
struggle1833
floundering1868
society > society and the community > dissent > contention or strife > [noun]
i-winc888
wrestlingc890
fightc1000
flitec1000
teenOE
winOE
ungrithlOE
wara1200
cockingc1225
strife?c1225
strivingc1275
struta1300
barratc1300
thro1303
battlec1375
contentionc1384
tuggingc1440
militationa1460
sturtc1480
bargain1487
bargaining1489
distrifea1500
concertation1509
hold1523
conflict1531
ruffle1532
tangling1535
scamblingc1538
tuilyie1550
bustling1553
tilt1567
ruffling1570
wresting1570
certationc1572
pinglinga1578
reluctation1593
combating1594
yoking1594
bandying1599
tention1602
contrast1609
colluctation1611
contestationa1616
dimication1623
rixation1623
colluctance1625
decertation1635
conflicting1640
contrasto1645
dispute1647
luctation1651
contest1665
stickle1665
contra-colluctation1674
contrasting1688
struggle1706
yed1719
widdle1789
scrambling1792
cut and thrust1846
headbutting1869
push-and-pull1881
contending1882
thrust and parry1889
aggro1973
c890 Wærferth tr. Gregory's Dial. 320 Swa wæs þær þa seo wræstlung ymb Stephanum.
c890 Wærferth tr. Gregory's Dial. 321 He þa..ut ferde of lichaman to gewinne & to wræstlunge lifes & deaðes.
a1400 New Test. (Paues) Ephes. vi. 12 For ȝoure wrastlynge..is..aȝeyn princes.
1523 Ld. Berners tr. J. Froissart Cronycles I. xxxix. 54 So this wrastlyng endured a long space; but fynally the knyght was rescued.
1548 N. Udall et al. tr. Erasmus Paraphr. Newe Test. I. Matt. v. 19 b [To] make ye redy to this wrastling, if ye esteme the blessed rewardes of the gospell.
1632 W. Lithgow Totall Disc. Trav. vi. 294 With sore Wrestling agaynst the parching Sun.
1642 Declar. Lords & Comm. 23 Sept. 9 Our wrastling, and striving with that fierce and peremptory opposition.
a1844 in Stanley Arnold I. ii. 31 His absolute wrestling with evil.
1883 Knowledge June 334/1 That heavy and subtle wrestling for position which distinguishes the first-class player [of chess].
b. The action of struggling or labouring.
ΘΠ
the world > movement > motion in specific manner > irregular movement or agitation > [noun] > struggling
wrestling?c1225
strugglingc1386
scrabbling1582
the world > action or operation > manner of action > effort or exertion > [noun] > under difficulties > action of
wrestling?c1225
strugglingc1386
pingling1768
the world > action or operation > manner of action > effort or exertion > [noun] > labour or toil > action of
wrestling?c1225
travailingc1330
tewing1394
labouringc1400
sweatingc1430
toiling1549
moiling1565
carking1583
allaboration1727
fagging1777
bullocking1888
schlepping1937
?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 275 Þe oðer bitternesse is in wrestlung & in wragelunge aȝein es fondunge.
?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 175 Al þus..inwrestlunge of fondunge ariseð þe biȝete.
c1450 Mirk's Festial i. 61 And so yn wrastelyng, scho woke of hyr slepe.
1563 Burnynge Paules Church sig. Miiii Saint Willyams horse,..wyth wrastlynge and sparringe vppe, saued himselfe and his master from drowninge.
c. The action of striving earnestly in prayer; an instance of this.
ΘΚΠ
society > faith > worship > prayer > [noun] > action of or offering of > striving earnestly in
wrestling1722
1722 R. Wodrow Corr. (1843) II. 664 You have our prayers here, and..the Church of Scotland has a share in your wrestlings.
1818 J. Pye Smith Script. Test. Messiah I. 96 The ‘wrestlings’ of holy prayer.
1902 A. McIlroy Druid's Island viii After deep conseederation, an' sore wrastlin' wi' the Almichty in prayer.
Compounds
C1. General attributive.† wrestling game n. Obsolete
wrestling article n.
Π
1714 T. Parkyns Inn-play (ed. 2) 62 To make these Wrestling Articles yet more stronge they may be with a Noverint Universi.
wrestling bout n.
Π
1869 H. F. Tozer Res. Highlands of Turkey II. 237 [The ballads] treat..of wrestling bouts with Charon.
Π
1596 E. Spenser Second Pt. Faerie Queene vi. ix. sig. Gg8v Coridon..Did chalenge Calidore to wrestling game . View more context for this quotation
1874 J. A. Symonds Sketches Italy & Greece 8 The olives here tell more to us of Olivet..than of..the wrestling-ground.
wrestling-house n.
Π
1848 B. D. Walsh tr. Aristophanes Clouds iii. iii This is the talk which daily..crowds the Bagnios, and drains the Wrestling-houses!
wrestling-master n.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > fighting sports > wrestling > [noun] > teacher
paedotribe1594
wrestling-master1714
1714 T. Parkyns Inn-play (ed. 2) 15 Since the Diluvians..have been celebrated Wrestling Masters.
1820 T. Mitchell tr. Aristophanes Knights in tr. Aristophanes Comedies I. 272 Say further what the wrestling-master Instructed you.
wrestling-match n.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > fighting sports > wrestling > [noun] > bout
thro1303
wrestling1303
pulla1400
fall1597
wrestling pull1602
wrestle1670
wrestling-matcha1684
warslec1811
a1684 J. Evelyn Diary anno 1667 (1955) III. 476 A Wrestling-match for 1000 pounds..before his Majestie.
1889 W. Armstrong Wrestling in W. H. Pollock et al. Fencing (Badminton Libr. of Sports & Pastimes) 233 What a Lancashire wrestling-match is like.
1974 Plain Dealer (Cleveland, Ohio) 27 Oct. 2- c/1 Even the second Ali-Frazier fight became a financial success for the promoters after Ali put on his rassling match with Frazier during that TV interview.
wrestling ring n.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > fighting sports > wrestling > [noun] > place for wrestling
palaestrac1425
wrestling placec1440
fighting-school1535
list1589
wrestling ring1695
akhara1832
wrestling school1835
1695 N. Luttrell Diary in Brief Hist. Relation State Affairs (1857) III. 461 The wrestling ring in Lincolns Inn Feilds.
1893 J. Robinson & S. Gilpin Wrestling 52 [He] would not be quick enough in his movements in the wrestling ring.
wrestling science n.
Π
1623 H. Cockeram Eng. Dict. Gymnasticke, a teacher of the Wrastling Science.
1893 J. Robinson & S. Gilpin Wrestling 9 Old and young regarded wrestling science..with keen relish.
wrestling trim n.
Π
1869 R. D. Blackmore Lorna Doone I. xxvi. 297 When I be in wrestling trim.
C2. † wrestling pull n. Obsolete a bout of wrestling; = pull n.1 7.
wrestling place n. a place where wrestling is practised or held.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > fighting sports > wrestling > [noun] > place for wrestling
palaestrac1425
wrestling placec1440
fighting-school1535
list1589
wrestling ring1695
akhara1832
wrestling school1835
c1440 Promptorium Parvulorum 533/2 Wrestelynge place, palestra.
1556 in J. G. Nichols Chron. Grey Friars (1852) 42 At Clarkenwell at the wrestlynge place.
1584 R. Greene tr. L. Labé Deb. Follie & Loue in Gwydonius f. 77 Hath not Folly inuented a thousand deuices to drawe a man from idlenesse, as..Dauncing schooles, Fencing houses, wrastling places.
a1610 J. Healey tr. Theophrastus Characters 23 in tr. Epictetus Manuall (1636) I pray you whose wrestling place is this?
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > fighting sports > wrestling > [noun] > bout
thro1303
wrestling1303
pulla1400
fall1597
wrestling pull1602
wrestle1670
wrestling-matcha1684
warslec1811
1602 R. Carew Surv. Cornwall i. f. 2 This wrastling pull betweene Corineus and Gogmagog.
wrestling school n. Ancient Greek History = palaestra n. 1.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > fighting sports > wrestling > [noun] > place for wrestling
palaestrac1425
wrestling placec1440
fighting-school1535
list1589
wrestling ring1695
akhara1832
wrestling school1835
1835 C. Thirlwall Hist. Greece I. vii. 290 The exercises of the troop in..the wrestling-school.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1928; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
wrestlingadj.
/ˈrɛslɪŋ/, /ˈrɛsl̩ɪŋ/, U.S. /ˈrɛs(ə)lɪŋ/ 1. That wrestles or contends, in various senses. Also transferred.
ΘΚΠ
society > society and the community > dissent > contention or strife > [adjective] > contending
strivingc1374
strivousa1382
militant?a1425
wrestlinga1547
cocking1550
struggling1577
contending1593
scambling1600
conflictant1629
contendenta1641
tugging1657
agonous1682
battling1787
belligerent1812
conflicting1855
warring1883
duelling1944
society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > fighting sports > wrestling > [adjective] > that wrestles
wrestlinga1547
wraxling1855
a1547 Earl of Surrey tr. Virgil Certain Bks. Aenæis (1557) ii. sig. Bivv As wrastling windes, out of dispersed whirl, Befight themselues.
1593 T. Nashe Christs Teares f. 52 Your paine shalbe so wrastling, tearing, and intollerable.
1597 C. Middleton Famous Hist. Chinon vi. sig. G4v His Fathers yeares: whome wrestling age had almost now layed along in hys graue.
1605 Z. Jones tr. P. le Loyer Treat. Specters 12 There was amongst the Greeks, a Diuell..named..the wrastling Diuell.
?1611 G. Chapman tr. Homer Iliads xix. 361 All their stall flies up in wrastling flame.
1632 W. Lithgow Totall Disc. Trav. x. 465 The thundring noyse of my wrestling voyce.
1738 J. Wesley Coll. Psalms & Hymns (new ed.) xxiv. vii Thou the true wrestling Jacob art.
1847 Ld. Tennyson Princess vii. 156 The wrestling thews that throw the world.
1889 W. Armstrong Wrestling in W. H. Pollock et al. Fencing (Badminton Libr. of Sports & Pastimes) 232 Wrestling men are impulsive beings.
1892 W. H. Hudson Naturalist in La Plata 366 How I saw and lost the noble wrestling frog [= wrestler frog].
2. Marked or characterized by strife or contention, or by earnest striving.
ΘΠ
the world > action or operation > manner of action > effort or exertion > [adjective] > making strenuous effort under difficulties
struggling1577
wrestlinga1593
society > society and the community > dissent > contention or strife > [adjective] > characterized by
unpeaceablec1384
contentiousc1430
battlefulc1449
sturtful1568
bateful1582
wrestlinga1593
militant1603
concertative1727
adversarial1839
adversative1849
conflictual1961
fuck you1962
confrontational1975
the world > action or operation > endeavour > [adjective] > striving or struggling
labouringc1425
studient1565
struggling1577
striving1697
uphill1821
wrestling1854
a1593 C. Marlowe tr. Lucan First Bk. (1600) 299 His graue looke appeasd The wrastling tumult.
1620 T. Peyton Glasse of Time i. 50 That none by wrong oppression might Be crost, by cunning, wringing, wrestling guile.
1854 H. Miller Schools & Schoolmasters (1857) v. 98 It was impossible to avoid being struck with its wrestling earnestness and fervour.
1859 ‘G. Eliot’ Adam Bede III. v. xlvii. 183 She poured forth her soul with the wrestling intensity of a last pleading.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1928; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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n.c890
adj.a1547