Affray Definition
The voluntary and consensual fighting between two or more individuals in a public place to the terror of onlookers or the disturbance of the peace. There is no affray when a person is unlawfully attacked and resorts to self-defense instead of fleeing. See also assembly.
Origin of Affray
-
From Middle English afraien (“to terrify, frighten”), from Anglo-Norman afrayer (“to terrify, disquiet, disturb”), from Old French effreer, esfreer (“to disturb, remove the peace from”), from es- (“ex-”) + freer (“to secure, secure the peace”), from Frankish *friþu (“security, peace”), from Proto-Germanic *friþuz (“peace”), from Proto-Germanic *frijōną (“to free; to love”), from Proto-Indo-European *prāy-, *prēy- (“to like, love”). Cognate with Old High German fridu (“peace”), Old English friþ (“peace, frith”), Old English frēod (“peace, friendship”), German Friede (“peace”). Compare also afear. More at free, friend.
From Wiktionary
-
Middle English from Old French effrei, esfrei from esfraier, esfreer to disturb prī- in Indo-European roots
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
Affray Is Also Mentioned In
Find Similar Words
Find similar words to affray using the buttons below.