fisticuff
Bare-knuckle combat
Fisticuff means a punch thrown in a fight, almost always appearing in the plural: The argument devolved into fisticuffs.
The word sounds old-fashioned and often carries a slightly humorous or literary tone, evoking barroom brawls or gentlemanly disputes rather than serious violence.
Disordered group skirmish
- scuffleBrief disorderly struggle
- tussleBrief physical struggle
- fracasNoisy disorderly fight
- skirmishBrief, limited combat
altercation · donnybrook · affray · dustup · punch-up · street fight · bar fight · rumble
Combat sport using fists
- sparringPractice combat training
- boutLimited stretch of something
- jabQuick, straight blow
- hookCurved catching device
uppercut · knockout · ring · gloves · pugilist · prizefight · bare-knuckle · Queensberry
Harmful physical force
- hostilityAntagonistic disposition toward others
- angerIntense hostile emotion
- rageIntense, violent anger
- assaultViolent offensive act
intimidation · brutality · force · retaliation · animosity · temper · wrath · fury
Of a prim era
- EdwardianOf early twentieth-century Britain
- old-fashionedBelonging to earlier times
- gentlemanlyWell-mannered and honorable
- duelPrearranged one-on-one combat
honor · antiquated · bygone · classic · period · historical · Dickensian · 19th-century
melee
Disordered group skirmish
skirmish · altercation · donnybrook · affray · dustup · punch-up · street fight · bar fight · rumble · free-for-all
boxing
Combat sport using fists
hook · uppercut · knockout · ring · gloves · pugilist · prizefight · bare-knuckle · Queensberry · cornerman
violence
Harmful physical force
- hostilityAntagonistic disposition toward others
- angerIntense hostile emotion
- rageIntense, violent anger
assault · intimidation · brutality · force · retaliation · animosity · temper · wrath · fury · belligerence
Victorian
Of a prim era
- EdwardianOf early twentieth-century Britain
- old-fashionedBelonging to earlier times
- gentlemanlyWell-mannered and honorable
duel · honor · antiquated · bygone · classic · period · historical · Dickensian · 19th-century · ruffian
fisticuffdebate
Formal argument on issues
war of words · argument · negotiation · litigation · diplomacy