brawl

[brawl]

noun

1. an angry, rough, noisy fight, especially one engaged in under the influence of alcohol.

   The wild, free-for-all western brawl in the saloon lasts two full minutes and constitutes the movie’s opening scene.

   Synonyms: tumult, wrangle, rumpus, row, altercation, affray

2. Slang.,  a large, noisy party.

3. Obsolete.,  a bubbling or roaring noise; a clamor.

verb (used without object)

1. to engage in angry, rough, noisy fighting, especially while under the influence of alcohol.

   He found that his hero was little more than a drunken, brawling tramp.

   Synonyms: row, bicker, fight, squabble

2. to make a bubbling or roaring noise, as water flowing over a rocky bed.

brawl

¹

/ brɔːl /

noun

1. a loud disagreement or fight

2. slang,  an uproarious party

verb

1. to quarrel or fight noisily; squabble

2. (esp of water) to flow noisily

brawl

²

/ brɔːl /

noun

1. a dance: the English version of the branle

Other Word Forms

• brawler noun
• brawly adjective
• outbrawl verb (used with object)
• unbrawling adjective
• brawling noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of brawl¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; (verb) Middle English brawlen, brallen “to raise a clamor, quarrel, boast”; of uncertain origin; (noun) Middle English braule, brall, derivative of the verb

Word History and Origins

Origin of brawl¹

C14: probably related to Dutch brallen to boast, behave aggressively

Synonym Study

See disorder.

Example Sentences

Raf calls Jacob, who has been separated from the gang and is chatting up a girl in a pub, and urges him to come join a brawl that threatens.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

Indeed, if Wednesday’s wipe-out win at rollicking Dodger Stadium was any indication, the Dodgers seemed prime for this upcoming brawl, their strongest October fists bared and ready.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

A woman who was stabbed during a brawl in West Hollywood early Sunday morning is in critical condition, authorities said.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Mobs brawled in the streets over the Fugitive Slave Law.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Before he even took office, his supporters broke out in a bitter online brawl about whether the administration should make it easier for companies to secure visas for high-skilled tech workers.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• altercation 
• argument 
• battle 
• bickering 
• clash 
• dispute 
• feud 
• fight 
• fracas 
• free-for-all 
• melee 
• quarrel 
• riot 
• ruckus 
• scuffle 
• squabble 
• uproar 
• wrangle 

When To Use

What does brawl mean?

A brawl is a fight, especially a big one involving a lot of people.Brawl can also be used as a verb meaning to fight or to participate in a brawl. A person who does this or who’s known for fighting in general can be called a brawler.Much less commonly, brawl can also be used as a slang term for a wild party.Other rare senses of brawl include its use as a noun referring to a loud, bubbling noise, like water flowing in a stream, or as a verb meaning to make such a noise.Example: Police are investigating the post-concert brawl that left three people in the hospital.