haggle

[hag-uhl]

verb (used without object)

haggled, haggling 

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)

haggled, haggling 

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. to bargain or wrangle (over a price, terms of an agreement, etc); barter

2. rare,  (tr) to hack

Other Word Forms

• haggler noun
• unhaggled adjective
• unhaggling 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

Expect some considerable haggling with the OBR from the freshly recruited array of high-powered Downing Street economists.

From BBC

After some haggling — federal authorities initially balked at sending U.S. citizen minors to Mexico, Matías said — an agreement was reached.

From Los Angeles Times

Buyers haggle in bursts of Spanish, Greek and Mandarin.

From Salon

Through the ship’s computer, Mother, The Company directs them to investigate a transmission from, yes, a derelict alien vessel, prompting the coworkers to haggle over bonuses and hazard pay.

From Salon

Since they haggle on behalf of health plans that collectively enroll hundreds of millions of Americans, these PBMs have considerable leverage, and should theoretically drive a hard bargain and win enormous discounts.

From Salon

Related Words

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