brawler
nounUK /ˈbɹɔːlə(ɹ)/ · US /ˈbɹɔlɚ/
Etymology From Middle English brawler, brawlere, equivalent to brawl + -er.
1
One who brawls, engages in noisy, unseemly fights.
- The world hath noted. And your name is great In mouthes of wiſeſt Cenſure. What's the matter That you vnlace your reputation thus, And ſpend your rich opinion, for the name Of a night-brawler? Giue me anſwer to it.c. 1603–1604 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Othello, the Moore of Venice”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene iii], page 320, column 2:
- A Biſhop then muſt be blameleſſe, the huſband of one wife, vigilant, ſober, of good behauiour, giuen to hoſpitalitie, apt to teach; Not giuen to wine, no ſtriker, not greedy of filthy lucre, but patient, not a brawler, not couetous; One that ruleth well his owne houſe, hauing his children in ſubiection with all grauitie. (For if a man know not how to rule his owne houſe, how ſhall he take care of the Church of God?)1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, 1 Timothy 3:2–4, columns 1–2:
2
Video games Informal A beat 'em up game.
- "Classic brawlers ranging from Double Dragon to Streets of Rage and even Brutal Legend created my initial seed of interest for working on one," Deighan said.2020, Patrick Hickey Jr., The Minds Behind Adventure Games, page 136:
- Synonyms
- rooster