Of a battle, war, etc.: fought in the open without concealment; (hence) fought with full forces.

(In set battle, set field) = pitched, adj.2 2. Now rare (cf. sense 5).

Not attended with (much or any) bloodshed.

Of a military encounter: fought at a predetermined time and place; planned, organized. Cf. pitched, adj.2 2.

Of a military encounter: fought at a predetermined time and place; planned, organized. In later use also: designating a violent confrontation…

Of fighting: vigorous; intense. Also occasionally of a war: pursued on all fronts, general. Obsolete. rare after 17th cent.

Fixed or secure in position. Of a person, esp. a soldier in battle: Maintaining his ground. (Now with mixture of sense A. 2) †Also, of a battle…

Of a battle: = stricken, adj. 7. Obsolete.

Originally Nautical. Of a fight, battle, etc.: continued while one party is in retreat; (hence) continued while moving from one place to another…

Having a fixed station or place. Of a battle: fought in one place, without either side advancing or retreating. Cf. static, adj. 11.

stricken field (rarely battle): a joined engagement between armed forces or combatants; a pitched battle.

attributive. (Also in form close-quarter.) Done at close quarters; in immediate contact.