battle royal

[bat-l roi-uhl]

noun

plural

battle royals, battles royal 

1. a fight in which more than two combatants are engaged.

2. a cockfight in which three, five, or seven fowl are placed simultaneously in the fighting pit to eliminate each other by death or debilitating injury until only the victor remains in fighting condition.

3. Professional Wrestling.,  a type of wrestling match in which 15 to 30 wrestlers attempt to stay inside the ring while eliminating competitors by throwing them outside of the ropes until only one wrestler remains and is declared the winner.

4. a heated argument.

   After a while the discussion turned into a battle royal.

battle royal

noun

1. a fight, esp with fists or cudgels, involving more than two combatants; melee

2. a long violent argument

Word History and Origins

Origin of battle royal¹

First recorded in 1665–75 in spelling battail Royal