Noun
the police had to break up an affray that started between fans of the opposing teams
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
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 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
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'affray.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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
Share