tousle
UK: ˈtaʊz(ə)l | US: ˈtaʊz(ə)l
vt. to make (hair or clothing) untidy or disheveled
n. a tangled or disheveled mass (e.g., of hair)
tousle = tous<to pull> + le<frequentative verb suffix>
- tous (from Middle English tousen, meaning "to pull or handle roughly")
- le (a frequentative suffix indicating repeated action, as in "dazzle" or "sparkle")
Etymology Origin:
The word tousle originated in the late Middle English period, derived from the verb tousen (to handle roughly or pull apart). The suffix -le was added to imply a repeated or habitual action, giving the modern sense of disheveling hair or fabric through repeated tugging or messing. The word’s playful, tactile connotation reflects its roots in physical manipulation.
The wind tousled her hair as she walked along the beach.
He laughed and tousled his little brother’s hair affectionately.
After the pillow fight, the children’s clothes were tousled and wrinkled.
The dog’s fur was tousled from rolling in the grass.
She tried to smooth down her tousled curls before the meeting.