What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Quarrel vs Fighting - What's the difference?

quarrel | fighting |

As nouns the difference between quarrel and fighting

is that quarrel is a verbal dispute or heated argument or quarrel can be a diamond-shaped piece of coloured glass forming part of a stained glass window while fighting is a fight or battle; an occasion on which people fight.

As verbs the difference between quarrel and fighting

is that quarrel is to disagree while fighting is .

As an adjective fighting is

engaged in war or other conflict.

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

    fighting

    English

    Verb

    (head)

    • Derived terms

    * fighting chance

    Adjective

    (head)
  • Engaged in war or other conflict.
  • Apt to provoke a fight.
  • * 1925 April 11, "Books", in , page 26:
    • It seems like a fighting insult, but he explains.
  • * 1947 , (film):
    • Them's fighting words in my country!
  • * 2003 , Marjorie Kelly, The Divine Right of Capital: Dethroning the Corporate Aristocracy , Berrett-Koehler Publishers, ISBN 1576752372, page xi:
    • Those are fighting words, of course, and the people who presently hold the high ground of economic power in society will not be amused.

    Derived terms

    * fighting words

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A fight or battle; an occasion on which people fight
  • * {{quote-book, year=1613, author=, title=A Collection Of Old English Plays, Vol. IV., chapter=The Costlie Whore, edition= citation
    • , passage=Then here the warres end, here[206] our fightings marde, Yet by your leave Ile stand upon my Guard. '' }}
  • * {{quote-book, year=1840, author=Thomas Carlyle, title=On Heroes and Hero Worship and the Heroic in History, chapter=, edition= citation
    • , passage=Seid had fallen in the War of Tabuc, the first of Mahomet's fightings with the Greeks. }}
  • * {{quote-book, year=1860, author=John Yeardley, title=Memoir and Diary of John Yeardley, Minister of the Gospel, chapter=, edition= citation
    • , passage=A good many soldiers, and some officers, were present; but the expression of our dissent from all wars and fightings had not displeased them, for they shook hands with US most kindly. }}

    Descendants

    * Korean: (hwaiting)