hassle

[has-uh l] /ˈhæs əl/
noun
1.
a disorderly dispute.
2.
a problem brought about by pressures of time, money, inconvenience, etc.:
Finding a decent place to have lunch in this neighborhood is always a hassle.
verb (used without object), hassled, hassling.
3.
to dispute or quarrel:
children hassling over who has the most toys.
4.
to take time or effort:
We don't want to hassle with all that waiting in line.
verb (used with object), hassled, hassling.
5.
to bother, annoy, or harass:
I'll do the work, so don't hassle me.
Origin
1935-40; origin uncertain
Related forms
unhassled, adjective
Synonyms
1, 3. squabble, quarrel, row, scrap.
British Dictionary definitions for hassle

hassle

/ˈhæsəl/
noun
1.
a prolonged argument; wrangle
2.
a great deal of trouble; difficulty; nuisance
verb
3.
(intransitive) to quarrel or wrangle
4.
(transitive) to cause annoyance or trouble to (someone); harass
Word Origin
C20: of unknown origin
Word Origin and History for hassle
n.

1945, American English, perhaps from U.S. Southern dialectal hassle "to pant, breathe noisily" (1928), of unknown origin; or perhaps from hatchel "to harass" (1800), which may be a variant of hazel, the name of the plant that furnished switches for whippings. Noted in 1946 as a show biz vogue word.

v.

1951, from hassle (n.). Related: Hassled; hassling.

Slang definitions & phrases for hassle

hassle

noun
  1. A disagreement; quarrel; fight: A hassel between two actors touched off the riot/ The hassle over putting fluoride in drinking water
  2. A difficult or tedious task or concern: Getting those tickets was a real hassle
verb
  1. : They were hassling about who would pay the bill
  2. (also hass) To harass; treat rudely and roughly: I went to an assistant DA and told him I wanted to discuss being hassled by the police/ What you going to do if you find the hobo that hassed him?
  3. To get narcotics with difficulty: He finally hassled one bag (1950s+ Narcotics)

[1920s+, but mainly 1940s+; origin unknown; probably fr hatchel, ''to harass,'' found by 1800, a hatchel being an instrument for beating flax, and related to heckle;perhaps fr hazel, with a variant hassle, the switch used for beatings; hazel oil meant ''a beating'' by 1678]