riote

dispute, quarrel, domestic strife

1 / 1

A compact crowd violently disrupts a public street: two people overturn a street bin, another smashes a shop window with a brick, and others shove and grapple nearby.

noun / verb

riot

RY-uht/ˈraɪət/

An uncontrolled disturbance marked by wild collective activity.

Etymology

riotOld Frenchdispute, quarrel, domestic strife

The French word covered quarrels and domestic strife. In English, meanings involving wanton, disorderly behavior developed into the sense of a violent disturbance of public peace.

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