fracas

[frey-kuhs, frak-uhs, frak-ah]

noun

1. a noisy, disorderly disturbance or fight; riotous brawl; uproar.

fracas

/ ˈfrækɑː /

noun

1. a noisy quarrel; brawl

Word History and Origins

Origin of fracas¹

First recorded in 1720–30; < French, from Italian fracasso, derivative of fracassare “to smash,” equivalent to fra- “completely” (from Latin infrā “among”) + cassare “to break”; cassation

Word History and Origins

Origin of fracas¹

C18: from French, from fracasser to shatter, from Latin frangere to break, influenced by quassāre to shatter

Example Sentences

Mohammed Fahir Amaaz, 20, was charged with assaulting the Greater Manchester Police officers during the fracas on 23 July last year, with a video of the incident being widely shared on social media.

From BBC

A police officer involved in a fracas at Manchester Airport was an "uncontrolled bully with a badge", a jury has heard.

From BBC

Jurors have been urged by prosecutors to "not be distracted" by the kick and stamp of a police officer during a fracas at Manchester Airport.

From BBC

The fracas started when the unidentified agents began detaining street vendors near the intersection of Main and 9th streets downtown.

From Los Angeles Times

"There was a fracas at the end, there was foul play involved," Dowson said.

From BBC

Related Words

• altercation 
• bickering 
• brawl 
• brouhaha 
• feud 
• flap 
• fray 
• free-for-all 
• melee 
• quarrel 
• riot 
• scuffle 
• squabble 
• tumult 
• uproar