Battle definition

From from , from , from .

A general action, fight, or encounter, in which all the divisions of an army are or may be engaged; an engagement; a combat.
A struggle; a contest; as, the battle of life.

The whole intellectual battle that had at its center the best poem of the best poet of that day. - Henry Morley.
A division of an army; a battalion.
- 1485, Sir Thomas Malory, Le Morte Darthur, Book II:
  
  Thenne kyng Arthur made redy his hoost in x batails [...].
The king divided his army into three battles. - Francis Bacon.

The cavalry, by way of distinction, was called the battle, and on it alone depended the fate of every action. - William Robertson.
The main body, as distinct from the van and rear; battalia.

Battle can be used as the first part of a self-explaining compound; as, battle brand, a ``brand or sword used in battle; battle cry; battlefield; battle ground; battlearray; battle song.
Battle, combat, fight, engagement: These words agree in denoting a close encounter between contending parties. Fight is a word of less dignity than the others. Except in poetry, it is more naturally applied to the encounter of a few individuals, and more commonly an accidental one; as, a street fight. A combat is a close encounter, whether between few or many, and is usually premeditated. A battle is commonly more general and prolonged. An engagement supposes large numbers on each side, engaged or intermingled in the conflict.
(material dates from 1913)