Fray vs Squabble - What's the difference?
fray | squabble | Related terms |
Affray; broil; contest; combat; brawl; melee.
* Shakespeare
* {{quote-news
, year=2010
, date=December 29
, author=Mark Vesty
, title=Wigan 2 - 2 Arsenal
, work=BBC
(archaic) fright
To unravel; used particularly for the edge of something made of cloth, or the end of a rope.
(figuratively) To cause exhaustion, wear out (a person's mental strength).
(archaic) frighten; alarm
* 1662 , , Book II, A Collection of Several Philosophical Writings of Dr. Henry More, p. 63:
* Spenser
To bear the expense of; to defray.
* Massinger
To rub.
* Sir Walter Scott
To participate in a minor fight or argument.
* I. Watts
(printing) To disarrange, so that the letters or lines stand awry and require readjustment.
In intransitive terms the difference between fray and squabble
is that fray is to rub while squabble is to participate in a minor fight or argument.fray
English
Etymology 1
From (etyl) frai, aphetic variant of affray.Noun
(en noun)- Though they did not know the reason for the dispute, they did not hesitate to leap into the fray .
- Who began this bloody fray ?
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. }}
Etymology 2
From (etyl) fraien, from (etyl) frayer, from (etyl) .Verb
(en verb)- The ribbon frayed at the cut end.
- The stressful day ended in frayed nerves. (Metaphorical use; nerves are visualised as strings)
- "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."
- What frays ye, that were wont to comfort me affrayed?
- The charge of my most curious and costly ingredients frayed , I shall acknowledge myself amply satisfied.
- We can show the marks he made / When 'gainst the oak his antlers frayed .
squabble
English
Derived terms
* squabblyVerb
(squabbl)- ''The brothers were always squabbling with each other.
- The sense of these propositions is very plain, though logicians might squabble a whole day whether they should rank them under negative or affirmative.
- to squabble type