brawl

American  

[brawl] / brɔl /

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.

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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 British  

/ brɔːl /

noun

1. a loud disagreement or fight

2. slang an uproarious party

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verb

1. to quarrel or fight noisily; squabble

2. (esp of water) to flow noisily

brawl ² British  

/ brɔːl /

noun

1. a dance: the English version of the branle

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Usage

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.

Related Words

See disorder.

Other Word Forms

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

Etymology

Origin of brawl

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

Example Sentences

This brawl is unfortunate all around—not least for U.S. security.

From The Wall Street Journal

Though the actor has not publicly addressed the brawl, in the days before the incident, he posted several videos detailing his struggles with jet lag.

From Los Angeles Times

When the match resumed, brawls were still going on in the stands and Morocco’s Brahim Diaz failed to score with a weakly hit penalty kick.

From The Wall Street Journal

Amid Shia LaBeouf’s Mardi Gras brawl arrest in New Orleans, several outlets reported that he and wife Mia Goth had separated last year.

From Los Angeles Times

“Sure, we’re having a bit of a brawl on our side, but people are excited to show up for our candidates because they’re people that actually deliver results for working class people,” Scudder said.

From Salon

Related Words

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