roughhousing

Verb

roughhouse (third-person singular simple present roughhouses, present participle roughhousing, simple past and past participle roughhoused)

1. (intransitive) To play roughly (with physical roughness).
   • Out in the street, some delinquents were roughhousing, until the police drove by.

   Synonyms:

   horseplay

2. (intransitive) To commit physical assault.
   • Out in the street, some delinquents were roughhousing, until the police drove by.
3. (transitive) To treat (someone or something) roughly or violently.
   • Out in the street, some delinquents were roughhousing a victim, until the police drove by.

   Synonyms:

   rough up, work over

See all 5 meanings of roughhouse