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

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

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

On Tuesday — nearly two months after the incident — Anne Arundel County police arrested 26-year-old Trevor Taylor of Glen Burnie, Md., on charges of manslaughter, second-degree assault, affray and disorderly conduct. —Kyle Melnick, Washington Post, 21 July 2023

Garrett Trevor Taylor, 26, has been charged with manslaughter, three counts of second-degree assault, affray and disorderly conduct, according to a news release by police. —Kerry Breen, CBS News, 20 July 2023

Suspect Trevor Taylor faces charges of manslaughter, three counts of second-degree assault, affray and disorderly conduct after the attack on Christopher Wright, according to a Anne Arundel County Police Department statement. —Greg Norman, Fox News, 19 July 2023

Hood was arraigned on a charge of affray and pleaded not guilty. —Laura Crimaldi, BostonGlobe.com, 30 July 2022

Later in July, investigators identified a 15-year-old suspect and charged him with murder and affray, according to police. —Henri Hollis, ajc, 30 Nov. 2021

The man was later arrested and charged with animal cruelty and affray. —Washington Post, 10 Aug. 2021

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