affray

affray
    n 1: noisy quarrel [syn: {affray}, {altercation}, {fracas}]
    2: a noisy fight [syn: {affray}, {disturbance}, {fray},
       {ruffle}]
    

Affray \Af*fray"\, v. t. [p. p. {Affrayed}.] [OE. afraien,
   affraien, OF. effreer, esfreer, F. effrayer, orig. to
   disquiet, put out of peace, fr. L. ex + OHG. fridu peace
   (akin to E. free). Cf. {Afraid}, {Fray}, {Frith} inclosure.]
   [Archaic]
   1. To startle from quiet; to alarm.
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            Smale foules a great heap
            That had afrayed [affrayed] me out of my sleep.
                                                  --Chaucer.
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   2. To frighten; to scare; to frighten away.
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            That voice doth us affray.            --Shak.
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Affray \Af*fray"\, n. [OE. afrai, affrai, OF. esfrei, F. effroi,
   fr. OF. esfreer. See {Affray}, v. t.]
   1. The act of suddenly disturbing any one; an assault or
      attack. [Obs.]
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   2. Alarm; terror; fright. [Obs.] --Spenser.
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   3. A tumultuous assault or quarrel; a brawl; a fray. "In the
      very midst of the affray." --Motley.
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   4. (Law) The fighting of two or more persons, in a public
      place, to the terror of others. --Blackstone.
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   Note: A fighting in private is not, in a legal sense, an
         affray.
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   Syn: Quarrel; brawl; scuffle; encounter; fight; contest;
        feud; tumult; disturbance.
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