scuffling
n.— «“Only in recent years have I heard the terms ‘scufflin’,’ and ‘scuffling.’ It is obvious they are using it to mean ‘struggling,’ but not one dictionary I can find includes scufflin.'” “R: Your pal must be a blues fan, as the album in question is likely ‘Scufflin’ with Stu Ramsay & Chicago Slim’ (Capitol ST-344), a late 1969 release. Though not found in common dictionaries, scufflin’ has been a blues slang word for at least 77 years—maybe longer. I have definitely confirmed a pricey 1929 single by the Barrel House Five, titled “Scufflin’ Blues” (Paramount 12942). Recent sales of this 78 rpm have been in the $700 to $800 range.”» —“‘Scufflin” is old blues slang” by Jerry Osborne Evansville Courier Press (Indiana) Nov. 6, 2006. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)
Further reading
Samantha Harvey’s novel Orbital is a sensuous, exhilarating meditation about the strangeness of life on a space station, with its mix of tedious tasks and jaw-dropping views. And: a musician who rode the rails in his youth shares the slang he...
Steve, a singer-songwriter from Rock Springs, Wyoming, shares some slang he picked up while months riding the rails and busking. Spanging refers to panhandling, from asking for “spare change.” The term bull refers to a type of security...