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

Related Words

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