affrays

Noun

affray (countable and uncountable, plural affrays)

1. The act of suddenly disturbing anyone; an assault or attack.
   • A 22-year-old man was also arrested in connection with the incident for affray towards attending paramedics.2015, 8 November, "Rugby league journalist Gary Carter critically ill after Bethnal Green attack", BBC News http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-london-34755963
2. A tumultuous assault or quarrel.
   • The patient, who had a full view of the skirmish, was so tickled at the affray, that he burst into a laughter, which broke the quinsey, and cured him.1847, editorial staff, “Battle With the Hasty Pudding”, in Scientific American, series 1, Volume 3, Issue 10, page 74
3. The fighting of two or more persons, in a public place, to the terror of others.
   • The affray in the busy marketplace caused great terror and disorder.
4. (obsolete) Terror.
   • full of ghastly fright and cold affray1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book I, Canto III”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC

See all 6 meanings of affray