intransitive verb scuffled -·fled, scuffling -·fling

1. to struggle or fight in rough confusion
2. to move in a confused hurry or bustle
3. to drag the feet; shuffle
4. ☆ Informal to try hard but with little or no success; specif., to struggle to survive

Etymology: freq. of scuff

noun

1. a rough, confused fight; close, haphazard struggle
2. the act or sound of feet shuffling