A loud, public fight or brawl, typically between multiple people; a noisy quarrel or skirmish.
From Old French 'affrayer' meaning 'to alarm or frighten,' combining 'a-' and 'frayer' (to break). Over time, it shifted from meaning fright to meaning the violent confrontation that causes fright.
Medieval English law considered 'affray' serious enough to be a distinct crime—not quite assault, but more than simple assault, because the noise and public nature endangered the king's peace and terrified witnesses.
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