Word Study
tousle
CIDE DICTIONARY
tousle, v. t. [Freq. of touse. Cf.Tossle.].
To put into disorder; to tumble; to touse. [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
tousle, v.tr.
1 make (esp. the hair) untidy; rumple.
2 handle roughly or rudely.
1 make (esp. the hair) untidy; rumple.
2 handle roughly or rudely.
Etymology
frequent. of (now dial.) touse, ME f. OE rel. to OHG -zuson
ROGET THESAURUS
tousle
Derangement
VB derange, disarrange, misarrange, displace, misplace, mislay, discompose, disorder, deorganize, discombobulate, disorganize, embroil, unsettle, disturb, confuse, trouble, perturb, jumble, tumble, shuffle, randomize, huddle, muddle, toss, hustle, fumble, riot, bring into disorder, put into disorder, throw into disorder, muss, break the ranks, disconcert, convulse, break in upon, unhinge, dislocate, put out of joint, throw out of gear, turn topsy-turvy, bedevil, complicate, involve, perplex, confound, imbrangle, embrangle, tangle, entangle, ravel, tousle, towzle, dishevel, ruffle, rumple, litter, scatter, mix, rearrange.For further exploring for "tousle" in Webster Dictionary Online