contend vs tussle

contend is not a noun while tussle is a noun.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
contend	No	No	Yes	No
tussle	Yes	No	Yes	No

As verbs, tussle is a hyponym of contend; that is, tussle is a word with a more specific, narrower meaning than contend:

contend (noun)	tussle (noun)
	disorderly fighting

contend (verb)	tussle (verb)
to make the subject of dispute, contention, or litigation	make messy or untidy
have an argument about something	fight or struggle in a confused way at close quarters
maintain or assert
compete for something; engage in a contest; measure oneself against others
be engaged in a fight; carry on a fight
succeed in doing, achieving, or producing (something) with the limited or inadequate means available