English Explanatory Dictionary

haggle

English dictionary entry

Meanings

verb
  1. To argue for a better deal, especially over prices with a seller.
  2. To hack (cut crudely)
  3. To stick at small matters; to chaffer; to higgle.

Pronunciation

/ˈhæɡəl/ en-us-haggle.ogg en-au-haggle.ogg

Word forms

haggle haggles haggling haggled

Etymology

1570s, "to cut unevenly" (implied in haggler), frequentative of Middle English haggen (“to chop”), variant of hacken (“to hack”), equivalent to hack + -le. Sense of "argue about price" first recorded c.1600, probably from notion of chopping away.

Synonyms

bargain chaffer

Related words

bargain negotiate

Derived words

haggler higgle-haggle unhaggling wraggle
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