Battle

bat′l, n. a contest between opposing armies: a fight or encounter: ( arch. ) a body of troops in battle array, esp. in phrase 'main battle.'— v.i. to contend in fight: to maintain, champion (with against , with ).— ns. Bat′tle-axe , -ax , a kind of axe once used in battle; Bat′tle-cry , a war-shout; Bat′tlefield , the place on which a battle is fought; Bat′tle-piece , a pa age, or a painting, describing a battle.— adj. Bat′tle-scarred , scarred in battle.— ns. Bat′tleship , a war-ship of the first cla ; Pitched′-bat′tle , a battle fought on chosen ground.— Battle royal , a general mêlée— Half the battle , said of anything which ensures succe .— Line of battle , troops in array for battle; Line-of-battle ship , a ship strong enough to form one of the line.— To join , do battle , to fight. [Fr. bataille — battre , to beat. See Batter .]