affray

1 of 2

noun

af·​fray ə-ˈfrā 

1

archaic : fray, brawl

2

chiefly British : a fight in a public place that disturbs the peace

affray

2 of 2

verb

affrayed; affraying; affrays

transitive verb

archaic

: startle, frighten

Synonyms

Noun

• brawl
• broil
• donnybrook
• fracas
• fray
• free-for-all
• melee
• mêlée
• rough-and-tumble
• row
• ruckus
• ruction

Examples of affray in a Sentence

Noun

the police had to break up an affray that started between fans of the opposing teams

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The two men were arrested on suspicion of assault, assault of an emergency worker, affray (fighting in public), and obstructing police. —Reuters, NBC News, 25 July 2024

That simple affray charge was dismissed on April 22, according to court records. —Ryan Oehrli, Charlotte Observer, 8 June 2024

Although Stokes was fully acquitted of affray, the incident had a deep effect on him and was a stop-the-clock moment in his career. —Tim Ellis, Forbes, 14 Feb. 2024

Two 13-year-old boys were charged with assault and battery by means of a deadly weapon (shod foot), affray, and resisting arrest, police said. —Nick Stoico, BostonGlobe.com, 17 Aug. 2023

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English afray, affray "fright, consternation, assault, brawl," borrowed from Anglo-French effrei, esfrei, affrai, noun derivative of esfreier, effreier, affraier "to frighten, startle" — more at affray entry 2

Verb

Middle English afraien, affraien "to disturb, frighten, attack, brawl," borrowed from Anglo-French esfreier, effreier, (with prefix alternation) affreer, affraier "to frighten, startle," going back to Gallo-Romance *exfridāre, from Latin ex- ex- entry 1 + Gallo-Romance *-fridāre, derivative from Old Low Franconian *friðu "peace, tranquility," going back to Germanic *friþu- (whence Old English friþ "peace, security, protection," Old Saxon friđu, Old High German fridu, Old Norse friðr), derivative, with the suffix *-tu-, of *fri(j)a- free entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

affray

noun

af·​fray

ə-ˈfrā

: a noisy quarrel or fight

Legal Definition

affray

noun

af·​fray ə-ˈfrā 

: a fight between two or more people in a public place that disturbs the peace

Etymology

Noun

Middle French affrai, effrai fright, disturbance, from affraier, effreer to terrify