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Fray vs Quarrel - What's the difference?

fray | quarrel |

In intransitive terms the difference between fray and quarrel

is that fray is to rub while quarrel is to find fault; to cavil.

fray

English

Etymology 1

From (etyl) frai, aphetic variant of affray.

Noun

(en noun)
  • Affray; broil; contest; combat; brawl; melee.
    • Though they did not know the reason for the dispute, they did not hesitate to leap into the fray .
  • * Shakespeare
    • Who began this bloody fray ?
  • * {{quote-news
    • , year=2010 , date=December 29 , author=Mark Vesty , title=Wigan 2 - 2 Arsenal , work=BBC citation , page= , passage=Wigan, unbeaten in five games at the DW Stadium, looked well in control but the catalyst for Arsenal's improvement finally came when Diaby left the field with a calf injury and Jack Wilshere came into the fray , bringing some much needed determination and urgency to lacklustre Arsenal. }}
  • (archaic) fright

    • Etymology 2

    From (etyl) fraien, from (etyl) frayer, from (etyl) .

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To unravel; used particularly for the edge of something made of cloth, or the end of a rope.
    • The ribbon frayed at the cut end.
  • (figuratively) To cause exhaustion, wear out (a person's mental strength).
    • The stressful day ended in frayed nerves. (Metaphorical use; nerves are visualised as strings)
  • (archaic) frighten; alarm
  • * 1662 , , Book II, A Collection of Several Philosophical Writings of Dr. Henry More, p. 63:
    • "Besides, all the wit and Philosophy in the world can never demonstrate, that the killing and slaughtering of a Beast is anymore then the striking of a Bush where a Bird's Nest is, where you fray away the Bird, and then seize upon the empty Nest."
  • * Spenser
    • What frays ye, that were wont to comfort me affrayed?
  • To bear the expense of; to defray.
  • * Massinger
    • The charge of my most curious and costly ingredients frayed , I shall acknowledge myself amply satisfied.
  • To rub.
  • * Sir Walter Scott
    • We can show the marks he made / When 'gainst the oak his antlers frayed .

    quarrel

    English

    Etymology 1

    From (etyl) querele (modern French querelle), itself from (etyl) . Replaced (etyl) sacan by 1340 as “ground for complaint”.

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A verbal dispute or heated argument.
    • We got into a silly quarrel about what food to order.
  • * Quarrels would not last long if the fault were only on one side.
  • A ground of dispute or objection; a complaint.
    • A few customers in the shop had some quarrel s with us, so we called for the manager.
  • * Herodias had a quarrel against him, and would have killed him. - Bible, Mark vi. 19
  • * You mistake, sir. I am sure no man hath any quarrel to me.'' - Shakespeare, ''Twelfth Night , Act 3, scene 4
  • (obsolete) earnest desire or longing.
    • (Holland)
    Synonyms
    * See also
    Related terms
    *

    Verb

    (intransitive)
  • To disagree.
  • To contend, argue strongly, squabble.
  • * Sir W. Temple
    • Beasts called sociable quarrel in hunger and lust.
  • To find fault; to cavil.
    • to quarrel with one's lot
  • * Roscommon
    • I will not quarrel with a slight mistake.
  • (obsolete) To argue or squabble with.
  • * Ben Jonson
    • I had quarrelled my brother purposely.

    Derived terms

    * quarreler, quarreller * quarrelsome

    Etymology 2

    From (etyl) as "square-headed bolt for a crossbow" c.1225, from (etyl) quarel (modern French carreau), from , related to quattuor "four".

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A diamond-shaped piece of coloured glass forming part of a stained glass window.
  • A square tile; quarry tile.
  • A square-headed arrow for a crossbow.
  • *1600 , (Edward Fairfax), The (Jerusalem Delivered) of (w), Book VII, ciii:
  • *:Twanged the string, out flew the quarrel long, / And through the subtle air did singing pass.
  • *Sir (John Mandeville) (c.1350)
  • *:to shoot with arrows and quarrel
  • *Sir (Walter Scott) (1771-1832)
  • *:two arblasts,with windlaces and quarrels
  • *1829 , (Edward Augustus Kendall), The Olio or Museum of Entertainment , Vol.III, p.174
  • *:The small cross-bow, called the arbalet or arbalest, is said to have been invented by the Sicilians. It was carried by the foot-soldiers, and when used was charged with a quarrel or bar-bolt, that is, a small arrow with a flat head, one of which occasioned the death of Harold at the battle of Hastings,.
  • *2000 . , p.379
  • *:Satin scooped up his crossbow and sent a few quarrel s after them as they ran, to see them off the faster.
  • A small opening in window tracery, of which the cusps etc. make the form nearly square.
  • A four-sided cutting tool or chisel with a diamond-shaped end.

    • See also

    * (wikipedia) * quarl