Fighting Words

Saturdays are perfect days for pugnacious surprises. Surprise—we’re talking about fighting words today!

Considering how belligerent humans tend to be as a species, it's no wonder we have so many words to describe fights. Some of the these words--e.g. brawl, clash, ruckus, skirmish, and tussle --have odd or esoteric origins. Plenty of others, though, are connected to our classical roots:

altercation (noun) - a noisy quarrel or fight
—altercate (verb) - to argue violently; to have differences with another
ROOT: ALT- (other)

battle (verb) - to fight or engage with an enemy; to struggle or work hard
—a battle is also a fight, struggle, or military engagement
—a battalion is a specific military unit or large body of troops
ROOT: BAT- (to beat or strike)

combat (verb) - to fight or struggle
—a combat is also a battle or fight
—a combatant is a fighter or a person or group engaged in or prepared for a fight
—combative means given to fighting or disposed to engage in combat
ROOT: BAT- (to beat or strike)

assault (verb) - to make a physical attack or effort
—an assault also describes a physical or verbal attack or a specific violent crime
ROOT: SAL- (to leap)
[NOTE: the verb assail comes from the same formation and means the same thing.]

dispute (verb) - to argue, debate, or oppose
—a dispute is an argument, debate, or quarrel
—a disputant is a participant in a dispute
ROOT: PUT- (consider)

fracas (noun) - a noisy, disorderly fight or disturbance
ROOT: CAS- (to cut)

fray (noun) - a fight, battle, or contest
ROOT: FRI- (peace)
[NOTE: fray comes from affray—also a fight or competition—whose roots, like those of afraid, mean "to take out of peace."]

melee (noun) - hand-to-hand combat, often disorderly or confused; any state of confusion or turmoil
ROOT: MISC- (mix)

quarrel (noun) - an argument, dispute, or disagreement, usually hostile
to quarrel means to angrily disagree, argue, or end friendly relations
ROOT: QUER- (complain)