affray
[ uh-frey ]
/ əˈfreɪ /
noun
a public fight; a noisy quarrel; brawl.
Law.
the fighting of two or more persons in a public place.
verb (used with object)
Archaic.
to frighten.
Origin of affray
1275–1325; Middle English < Anglo-French
afray (noun),
afrayer (v.), Old French
esfrei (noun),
esfreer (v.) < Vulgar Latin
*exfridāre to break the peace, equivalent to
ex-
ex-1 +
-frid- peace (< Germanic; compare German
Friede) +
-āre infinitive suffix
Words nearby affray
afford,
affordable,
affordable care act,
afforest,
affranchise,
affray,
affrayer,
affreight,
affreightment,
affricate,
affrication
Example sentences from the Web for affray
British Dictionary definitions for affray
affray
/ (əˈfreɪ) /
noun
law
a fight, noisy quarrel, or disturbance between two or more persons in a public place
verb
(tr) archaic
to frighten
Word Origin for affray
C14: via Old French from Vulgar Latin
exfridāre (unattested) to break the peace; compare German
Friede peace