donnybrook

[don-ee-brook]

noun

(often initial capital letter)

1. an inordinately wild fight or contentious dispute; brawl; free-for-all.

donnybrook

/ ˈdɒnɪˌbrʊk /

noun

1. a rowdy brawl

Word History and Origins

Origin of donnybrook¹

First recorded in 1850–55; after Donnybrook (Fair).

Word History and Origins

Origin of donnybrook¹

C19: after Donnybrook Fair, an annual event until 1855 near Dublin

Example Sentences

But money has settled previous donnybrooks over new technologies.

From Los Angeles Times

The winner of this donnybrook will have to face Philadelphia or Atlanta.

From Los Angeles Times

Mr. Youngkin is not Virginia’s first governor in recent memory to get tangled up in a racially clueless donnybrook of his own making.

From Washington Post

That law stepped in at a moment when the debate about same-sex marriage — like the abortion debate today — was turning into a national donnybrook.

From Washington Post

The threat of widespread resignations appeared to deter Trump, who feared the embarrassment that would come with such a donnybrook.

From Washington Post

When To Use

What does donnybrook mean?

A donnybrook is a wild brawl or a rowdy dispute.The word implies a big, riotous scene, especially one that unfolds in public. When it refers to a brawl, it usually means a chaotic free-for-all among many people in a crowded place. Donnybrook is sometimes capitalized.Example: After the game, a small argument in the parking lot between fans of the opposing teams turned into an all-out donnybrook.