affray
noun /əˈfreɪ/
/əˈfreɪ/
[countable, usually singular, uncountable] (law)- a fight or violent behaviour in a public place that disturbs the peace
- The men were charged with affray/with causing an affray.
Word OriginMiddle English (in the general sense ‘disturbance, fray’): from Anglo-Norman French afrayer ‘disturb, startle’, based on an element of Germanic origin related to Old English frithu ‘peace, safety’ (compare with German Friede ‘peace’).