haggle

[ hag-uhl ]

verb (used without object)

, hag·gled, hag·gling.

1. to bargain in a petty, quibbling, and often contentious manner:

   They spent hours haggling over the price of fish.

2. to wrangle, dispute, or cavil:

   The senators haggled interminably over the proposed bill.

verb (used with object)

, hag·gled, hag·gling.

1. to mangle in cutting; hack.
2. to settle on by haggling.
3. Archaic. to harass with wrangling or haggling.

noun

1. the act of haggling; wrangle or dispute over terms.

haggle

/ ˈhæɡəl /

verb

1. introften foll byover to bargain or wrangle (over a price, terms of an agreement, etc); barter
2. rare.
   tr to hack

Derived Forms

• ˈhaggler, noun

Other Words From

• haggler noun
• un·haggled adjective
• un·haggling adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of haggle¹

1275–1325; Middle English haggen to cut, chop (< Old Norse hǫggva to hew ) + -le

Word History and Origins

Origin of haggle¹

C16: of Scandinavian origin; compare Old Norse haggva to hew

Example Sentences

We haggle as I tie the waterskins to Rostam’s back.

From Literature

The group of far-right lawmakers who sought to block the measure in committee won their seats on the Rules panel as part of a concession made last year by the speaker at the time, Kevin McCarthy, who had to haggle with ultraconservatives who opposed electing him to the top post and agreed to back him only after he granted them critical leverage.

From New York Times

“They didn’t really haggle too much with me or try to start lowballing me at the beginning,” he said.

From Los Angeles Times

Mark Gordon tried to haggle, and then gave him the cash, though it was short by £5.

From BBC

As the legislation, the safety of Rwanda bill, returns to Parliament this week, and as politicians haggle over what shape it will take, here’s a look at three common claims about the policy and how it might affect asylum in Britain.

From New York Times

Related Words

• bargain
• barter
• dicker
• quibble
• squabble
• wrangle