dogfight

[dawg-fahyt, dog-]

noun

1. a violent fight between dogs.

2. a fight between warring fighter planes.

3. any rough-and-tumble physical battle.

verb (used with object)

dogfought, dogfighting 

1. to engage in a dogfight with.

verb (used without object)

dogfought, dogfighting 

1. to engage in a dogfight.

dogfight

/ ˈdɒɡˌfaɪt /

noun

1. close quarters combat between fighter aircraft

2. any rough violent fight

Word History and Origins

Origin of dogfight¹

1650–60; 1915 dogfight for def. 2; dog + fight

Example Sentences

It is easier to play high tempo, ambitious rugby on a summer tour and against southern hemisphere opposition than in the depths of a Six Nations dogfight.

Read more on BBC

In stark contrast to the narrow loss to New Zealand last week, Scotland enjoyed a strong first half and went 21-0 up early in the second, before being dragged into a dogfight by Los Pumas.

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Space Force officers now use the phrase “dogfighting in space” to describe what China’s been practicing.

Read more on MarketWatch

"There was a whole range of different dogfighters in there, all collaborating, chatting, sharing videos. It gave us a real insight to the global perspective of dogfighting."

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Former NFL running back LeShon Johnson was convicted of running a large-scale dogfighting operation for the second time in 20 years.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• action 
• altercation 
• argument 
• battle 
• bout 
• brawl 
• clash 
• combat 
• conflict 
• confrontation 
• contest 
• controversy 
• disagreement 
• dispute 
• duel 
• exchange 
• feud 
• match 
• melee 
• quarrel