English Explanatory Dictionary

brawl

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A disorderly argument or fight, usually with a large number of people involved.
verb
  1. To engage in a brawl; to fight or quarrel.
  2. To create a disturbance; to complain loudly.
  3. Especially of a rapid stream running over stones: to make a loud, confused noise.
  4. To pour abuse on; to scold.
verb
  1. To move to and fro, to quiver, to shake.
noun
  1. A type of dance move or step.
  2. Alternative form of branle (“dance of French origin dating from the 16th century, performed by couples in a circle or a line; the music for this dance”).

Pronunciation

/bɹɔːl/ En-uk-brawl.oga /bɹɔl/ /bɹɑl/

Word forms

brawl brawls brawling brawled

Etymology

The verb is derived from Late Middle English braulen, brall, brallen (“to clamour, to shout; to quarrel; to boast”); further etymology is uncertain, but the word could be related to bray and ultimately imitative. It may be cognate with Danish bralle (“to chatter, jabber”), Dutch brallen (“to boast”), Low German brallen (“to brag”), Middle High German prālen (“to boast, flaunt”) (modern German prahlen (“to boast, flaunt, vaunt”)). The noun is derived from Middle English brall, bralle, braul, braule, brawle (“disturbance, squabble; brawl”), from the verb braulen: see above.

Synonyms

row scuffle squabble argument argy-bargy altercation contention barney bawl out blue bobbery brawl clash conflict controversy debate difference ding-dong disagreement discordance disharmony disputation dispute dissonance disunion dustup face-off falling out feud fight flite hassle issue palaver quarrel quibble spat tangle threap tiff wrangle affray dust-up fracas kerfuffle rixation ruckus set to set-to stoush vibrate waver

Derived words

barroom brawl basebrawl basketbrawl beanbrawl bench-clearing brawl brawlsome brawly footbrawl line brawl brawler brawling outbrawl
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