Plural noun; noisy or violent fights and brawls in public places.
From Old French 'affray,' possibly from 'a-' (to) + 'frey' (fright), though the exact etymology is debated. It entered English legal vocabulary in the 12th century.
The word 'affray' was so important in medieval law that it has its own specific legal definition—it required 'fear in the hearts of the people,' making it different from simple assault or battery.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.