Wrangle
/ˈræŋ.ɡəl/noun
To argue noisily or manage something by persistent argument or maneuvering.
Did you know?The word’s history is murky, but it likely developed in northern English dialects from a Germanic root tied to twisting or crooked movement, which fits the sense of people tangling each other up in argument.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*wrank- / *wrang-
“A possible Germanic base meaning twisted, crooked, or bent”
Old English
OE
wringan
“To twist, squeeze, or press”
Middle English
ME
wranglen
“To struggle, wrestle, or contend”
15th Century
English
wrangle
“To dispute noisily or argue back and forth”
Modern English
English
wrangle
“To argue, negotiate, or manage by persistent effort”