noun
fracas
FRAY-kus/ˈfreɪkəs/
A noisy quarrel or fight.
The café fracas overturns a chair and scatters cups as the women grapple.
Etymology
The 'shake' root, with a prefix meaning 'below,' lies behind a verb meaning 'smash to pieces.' Its associated noun meant 'crash' or 'uproar,' linking the noise of breaking with a noisy disturbance or fight.
In context
There is a disagreeable little matter regarding a lady, and I fear a fracas with a man who is awaiting me outside in the Nevski.
More examples
- Security guards separate the fans involved in the fracas.
- Their shouting match turns into a fracas when someone throws a punch.
- Several noisy fracases interrupt the otherwise peaceful meeting.
Forms
fracas · fracases
Similar words
- brawl
- Emphasizes a rough physical fight, often involving several people.
- quarrel
- Emphasizes an angry disagreement, not necessarily a noisy disturbance.
- altercation
- Usually describes a heated verbal exchange rather than physical fighting.