This week’s theme
To hyphenate or not to hyphenate?

This week’s words
merchant prince
journeyman
gold-digger
roughhouse
body blow

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A.Word.A.Day

PRONUNCIATION:

(RUF-haus)

MEANING:

verb tr.: To handle roughly, but in a playful manner.
verb intr.: To engage in boisterous play.
noun: Boisterous play.

ETYMOLOGY:

Originally, a rough house was the place where a brawl occurred. Over time, the term softened into a synonym for horseplay and became a verb as well. Earliest documented use: 1882.

USAGE:

“As their child grew older, they’d roughhouse on the lawn, hold sock battles in the living room.”
Leigh Duncan; His Favorite Cowgirl; Harlequin; 2014.

See more usage examples of roughhouse in Vocabulary.com’s dictionary.

A THOUGHT FOR TODAY: