Affray, n.
Etymology: [OE. afrai, affrai, OF. esfrei, F. effroi, fr. OF. esfreer. See Affray, v. t.]
1. The act of suddenly disturbing any one; an assault or attack. [Obs.]
2. Alarm; terror; fright. [Obs.] Spenser.
3. A tumultuous assault or quarrel; a brawl; a fray. "In the very midst of the affray." Motley.
4. (Law)
3 more senses
The fighting of two or more persons, in a public place, to the terror of others. Blackstone.
Note: A fighting in private is not, in a legal sense, an affray.
Syn. -- Quarrel; brawl; scuffle; encounter; fight; contest; feud; tumult; disturbance.
1 other Webster entry under this spelling
Affray, v. t. [p. p. Affrayed.]
[Archaic]
1. To startle from quiet; to alarm. Smale foules a great heap That had afrayed [affrayed] me out of my sleep. Chaucer.
2. To frighten; to scare; to frighten away. That voice doth us affray. Shak.
Shades of meaning
Fernald has no entry of its own for affray; he lists it under feud.
Where he writes about it:
Affray, brawl, and broil, like quarrel, are words of inferior dignity. — from feud
An affray or broil may arise at a street corner; the affray always involves physical force; the brawl or broil may be confined to violent language. — from feud