haggle
/ˈhaɡ(ə)l
/verb [no object]
Dispute or bargain persistently, especially over the cost of something: the two sides are haggling over television rights...
- Everyday villagers were haggling for the costs of fruits and vegetables in the market.
- Imagine how much we'll save on court costs and haggling over that silly bill of rights.
- Besides, at the end of the day, isn't all negotiation haggling?
Synonyms
barter, bargain, negotiate, discuss terms, quibble, wrangle;
beat someone down, drive a hard bargain;
deal, wheel and deal, trade, traffic;
North American dicker
formal treat
archaic chaffer, palter
noun
A period of haggling: an inevitable and lengthy haggle over compensation...
- There are many theories surrounding the art of bargaining in the bazaar, but there are only two really serious breaches of etiquette: not bargaining over the price, and walking away empty-handed after a lengthy haggle.
- A short haggle with Granny over and done with - Granny won, but then she always does - I left with a silly smile on my face.
Derivatives
haggler
/ noun ...- The worst part of the freedom-for-safety swap is that it's never a done deal; the safety providers are endless hagglers, always coming back for more.
- I am not a good haggler, because I trust people too much.
- One of Jason's great strengths was that he was incredibly practical and pragmatic, and a damn good haggler.
Origin
Late 16th century (in the sense 'hack, mangle'): from Old Norse hǫggva 'hew'.
hassle from [late 19th century]:
This was originally a dialect word in the sense ‘hack or saw at’. The origin is unknown but it may be a blend of haggle (LME from an Old Norse word for ‘hack, mangle’) and tussle (LME, probably the same word as tousle, of Germanic origin).