quarrel
UK /ˈkwɒɹ(ə)l/ · US /ˈkwɔɹəl/ noun, verb
Forms quarrels quarreling quarrelling quarreled quarrelled quarrelest quarrellest quarrelledst quarreleth quarrelleth quarrell
- noun (countable) A dispute or heated argument (especially one that is verbal). “We got into a silly quarrel about what food to order.”
- noun (countable) Often preceded by a form of to have: a basis or ground of dispute or objection; a complaint; also, a feeling or situation of ill will and unhappiness caused by this. “A few customers in the shop had some quarrels with us, so we called for the manager.”
- noun (rare, uncountable) A propensity to quarrel; quarrelsomeness.
- verb (intransitive, also figuratively) To argue fiercely; to contend; to squabble; to cease to be on friendly terms, to fall out.
- verb (intransitive) To find fault; to cavil. “to quarrel with one’s lot”
- verb (intransitive, obsolete) Followed by at: to disagree with; to take offence.
- verb (transitive, obsolete except Scotland) To argue or squabble with (someone).
- noun (countable, archery, historical) An arrow or bolt for a crossbow or an arbalest (“a late, large type of crossbow”), traditionally with the head square in its cross section.
- noun (countable, architecture) A diamond- or square-shaped piece of glass forming part of a lattice window.
- noun (countable, Northern England, architecture) A square tile; a quarry tile; (uncountable) such tiles collectively.
- noun (countable, obsolete, rare) A cutting tool or chisel with a diamond- or square-shaped end.
- noun (countable, architecture, obsolete) A small square-shaped opening in window tracery.
Synonyms
argument argy-bargy altercation contention barney bawl out blue bobbery brawl clash conflict controversy debate difference ding-dong disagreement discordance disharmony disputation dispute wrangle row words run-in dustup scrap argufy altercate
Etymology
From Middle English querele (“altercation, dispute; argument, debate; armed combat; trial by combat; basis for dispute, complaint; claim, legal suit; a lament; illness”) [and other forms], from Anglo-Norman querele [and other forms] and Middle French querele, querelle (“altercation, dispute; basis for dispute; side in a dispute; complaint; accusation; legal suit; lament; problem”) (modern French querelle), and from their etymon Latin querēla, querella (“dispute; argument; complaint, grievance; legal complaint; lament; illness”), from querī + -ēla, -ella (suffix forming nouns). querī (“to complain; to bewail, lament; to be indignant”) comes from Proto-Indo-European *ḱwes- (“to puff; to sigh”).
From Middle English querelen (“to dispute, quarrel; to assert one's claims; to rebel”) [and other forms], from querele (noun); see etymology 1. Compare Anglo-Norman, Middle French, and Old French quereler, quereller (“to argue with, dispute; to criticize; to bring a legal suit”) (modern French quereller (“to quarrel, squabble”)).
From Middle English quarrel (“bolt for an arbalest, crossbow, or siege engine; (figurative) seductive glance, temptation to sin; needle (possibly one square in cross-section); small (perhaps square-shaped) opening in window tracery; a cushion (perhaps square-shaped)”) [and other forms], from Anglo-Norman quarel, quarele, quarrel, Middle French quarrel, and Old French quarel, quarrel, carrel (“crossbow bolt; floor tile or paving stone (rectangular- or square-shaped); small glass pane for windows”) (modern French carreau (“crossbow bolt; a tile; windowpane; a square”)), from Late Latin quarellus, quadrellus (“crossbow bolt; paving stone; a tile”), from Latin quadrum (“a square; square section; regular shape or form”) + -ellus (variant of -ulus (suffix forming diminutive nouns, indicating small size or youth)). Quadrum is ultimately derived from quattuor (“four”), from Proto-Indo-European *kʷetwóres (“four”). Doublet of carreau.
Webster’s 1913
- noun An arrow for a crossbow; --so named because it commonly had a square head. [Obs.]
- noun Any small square or quadrangular member; as: (a) A square of glass, esp. when set diagonally.
- noun A breach of concord, amity, or obligation; a falling out; a difference; a disagreement; an antagonism in opinion, feeling, or conduct; esp., an angry dispute, contest, or strife; a brawl; an altercation; as, he had a quarrel with his father about expenses.
- noun Ground of objection, dislike, difference, or hostility; cause of dispute or contest; occasion of altercation.
Etymology [OE. quarel, OF. quarrel, F. carreau, LL. quadrellus, from L. quadrus square. See Quadrate, and cf. Quadrel, Quarry an arrow, Carrel.]
Etymology [OE. querele, OF. querele, F. querelle, fr. L. querela, querella, a complaint, fr. queri to complain. See Querulous.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “quarrel”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details