affray

1 of 2

noun

af·​fray ə-ˈfrā How to pronounce affray (audio)
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

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
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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 See all Example Sentences for affray 

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of affray was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near affray

Cite this Entry

“Affray.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/affray. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

affray

noun
af·​fray
ə-ˈfrā
: a noisy quarrel or fight

Legal Definition

affray

noun
af·​fray ə-ˈfrā How to pronounce affray (audio)
: 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

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