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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 (gcide)

Battle \Bat"tle\, a.
Fertile. See {Battel}, a. [Obs.]
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Battle \Bat"tle\, n. [OE. bataille, bataile, F. bataille battle,
OF., battle, battalion, fr. L. battalia, battualia, the
fighting and fencing exercises of soldiers and gladiators,
fr. batuere to strike, beat. Cf. {Battalia}, 1st {Battel},
and see {Batter}, v. t. ]
1. A general action, fight, or encounter, in which all the
divisions of an army are or may be engaged; an engagement;
a combat.
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2. A struggle; a contest; as, the battle of life.
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The whole intellectual battle that had at its center
the best poem of the best poet of that day. --H.
Morley.
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3. A division of an army; a battalion. [Obs.]
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The king divided his army into three battles.
--Bacon.
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The cavalry, by way of distinction, was called the
battle, and on it alone depended the fate of every
action. --Robertson.
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4. The main body, as distinct from the van and rear;
battalia. [Obs.] --Hayward.
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Note: Battle is used adjectively or as the first part of a
self-explaining compound; as, battle brand, a "brand"
or sword used in battle; battle cry; battlefield;
battle ground; battle array; battle song.
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{Battle piece}, a painting, or a musical composition,
representing a battle.

{Battle royal}.
(a) A fight between several gamecocks, where the one that
stands longest is the victor. --Grose.
(b) A contest with fists or cudgels in which more than two
are engaged; a m[^e]l['e]e. --Thackeray.

{Drawn battle}, one in which neither party gains the victory.


{To give battle}, to attack an enemy.

{To join battle}, to meet the attack; to engage in battle.

{Pitched battle}, one in which the armies are previously
drawn up in form, with a regular disposition of the
forces.

{Wager of battle}. See under {Wager}, n.
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Syn: Conflict; encounter; contest; action.

Usage: {Battle}, {Combat}, {Fight}, {Engagement}. These words
agree in denoting a close encounter between contending
parties. Fight is a word of less dignity than the
others. Except in poetry, it is more naturally applied
to the encounter of a few individuals, and more
commonly an accidental one; as, a street fight. A
combat is a close encounter, whether between few or
many, and is usually premeditated. A battle is
commonly more general and prolonged. An engagement
supposes large numbers on each side, engaged or
intermingled in the conflict.
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Battle \Bat"tle\ (b[a^]t"t'l), v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Battled}
(-tl'd); p. pr. & vb. n. {Battling}.] [F. batailler, fr.
bataille. See {Battle}, n.]
To join in battle; to contend in fight; as, to battle over
theories.
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To meet in arms, and battle in the plain. --Prior.
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Battle \Bat"tle\, v. t.
To assail in battle; to fight.
[1913 Webster] Battle-ax