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Added 9 October 2026

brawl

/bɹɔːl/ noun

In Latin: rixa Wiktionary

noun Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about brawl at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

A disorderly argument or fight, usually with a large number of people involved.

verb

To engage in a brawl; to fight or quarrel.
To create a disturbance; to complain loudly.
Especially of a rapid stream running over stones: to make a loud, confused noise.

verb

To move to and fro, to quiver, to shake.

noun

A type of dance move or step.
Alternative form of branle (“dance of French origin dating from the 16th century, performed by couples in a circle or a line; the music for this dance”).

Origin

The verb is derived from Late Middle English braulen, brall, brallen (“to clamour, to shout; to quarrel; to boast”); further etymology is uncertain, but the word could be related to bray and ultimately imitative. It may be cognate with Danish bralle (“to chatter, jabber”), Dutch brallen (“to boast”), Low German brallen (“to brag”), Middle High German prālen (“to boast, flaunt”) (modern German prahlen (“to boast, flaunt, vaunt”)). The noun is derived from Middle English brall, bralle, braul, braule, brawle (“disturbance, squabble; brawl”), from the verb braulen: see above.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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