Dictionary

quarrel en · NOUN · etymology 1

Pronunciation

• (Received-Pronunciation) audio
• /ˈkwɑɹəl/ (New-York-City)
• /ˈkwɔɹəl/ (General-American)
• /ˈkwɒɹ(ə)l/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• (General-American) audio
• kwŏrʹəl (New-York-City)
• kwôrʹəl (General-American)

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”).

Meanings

1. (countable) A dispute or heated argument (especially one that is verbal).
   • But capital was proving difficult to raise; rumours were in the air that the G.W.R. and L.S.W.R. were about to patch up their quarrel, and the people of Southampton, who twelve months earlier had staged a torch-light procession to celebrate the passing of the D.N.S.R. Act, were increasingly loath to part with their cash. 1955 February, T. B. Sands, “The Didcot, Newbury & Southampton Railway—1”, in Railway Magazine, page 79:
   • Quarrels would not last long, if the fault was only on one side. 1851, Francis, Duc de la Rochefoucauld [i.e., François de La Rochefoucauld], translated by [anonymous], Moral Reflections, Sentences and Maxims of Francis, Duc de la Rochefoucauld. […], New York, N.Y.: William Gowans, →OCLC, number 523, page 140:
   • All quarrels halt at the grave. 2016 June 17, John O’Sullivan, “U.K. Membership in the European Union”, in C-SPAN, 4:34 from the start, archived from the original on 23 Dec 2020:
   • And let a Man bevvare, hovv he keepeth Company, vvith Cholerick and Quarelſome Perſons; for they vvill engage him into their ovvne Quarels. 1625, Francis [Bacon], “Of Trauaile”, in The Essayes […], 3rd edition, London: […] Iohn Haviland for Hanna Barret, →OCLC, page 104:
   • We got into a silly quarrel about what food to order.
2. (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.
   • You miſtake ſir I am ſure, no man hath any quarrell to me: my remembrance is very free and cleere from any image of offence done to any man. c. 1601–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “Twelfe Night, or What You Will”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene iv], page 269, column 1:
   • I have no quarrel with her; it’s her partner whom I dislike.
   • The material is powerful, though more theatrical than realistic. The writing is good. On thinking the play over, however, I came up with a few quarrels with it, and I wonder if to some Rabe has not attempted to cover some weaknesses in construction with the sensationalism of shocking bloodshed. 1976 December 4, Robert Chesley, “"Streamers" Deals with Gay Triangle”, in Gay Community News, volume 4, number 23, page 11:
   • Therefore Herodias had a quarrel against him [John the Baptist], and would haue killed him, but ſhe could not. 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Mark 6:19, column 1:
   • A few customers in the shop had some quarrels with us, so we called for the manager.
   • I am sorry, with all my heart, to find you so resolute. We have never had any quarrel, to which I have been a party. But I have made the trial in homage to Christmas, and I'll keep my Christmas humour to the last. So A Merry Christmas, uncle! 1843 December 19, Charles Dickens, “Stave I. Marley’s Ghost.”, in A Christmas Carol. […], London: Chapman & Hall, […], →OCLC, pages 10–11:
   • I maruaile much my Lords what rage it is, That moues my people whom I loue ſo deare, Vnder a ſhow of quarrell good and iust, To riſe againſt vs thus in mutinies, […] 1593, anonymous author, The Life and Death of Iacke Straw […], →OCLC, Act I:
3. (rare, uncountable) A propensity to quarrel; quarrelsomeness.
   • If I can faſten but one cup vpon him, / With that which he hath drunke to night already, / Hee'll be as full of quarrell and offence, / As my young miſtris dog:— [...] c. 1603–1604 (date written), William Shakespeare, The Tragœdy of Othello, the Moore of Venice. […] (First Quarto), London: […] N[icholas] O[kes] for Thomas Walkley, […], published 1622, →OCLC, [Act II, scene iii], page 30:
   • [A]ll beaſts and birds aſſembled; and forgetting their ſeuerall appetites; ſome of pray, ſome of game, ſome of quarrell, ſtood all ſociably together liſtening vnto the ayres and accords of the Harpe; […] 1605, Francis Bacon, “The First Booke”, in The Twoo Bookes of Francis Bacon. Of the Proficience and Aduancement of Learning, Diuine and Humane, London: […] [Thomas Purfoot and Thomas Creede] for Henrie Tomes, […], →OCLC, folio 32, verso:

Forms

Deriveds

unquarrelling · unquarrelled · it takes two to make a quarrel · pick a quarrel · pick-quarrel

Hyponyms

double quarrel

Relateds

querent

Synonyms

feud · barney · tangle · discordance · fight · threap · dissonance · disputation · squabble · blue · falling out · debate · face-off · brawl · spat · row · wrangle · dustup · ding-dong · hassle · altercation · quarrel · dispute · issue · bawl out · controversy · tiff · disunion · disharmony · contention · conflict · argy-bargy · flite · palaver · clash · quibble · difference · argument · bobbery · disagreement

Translations (205)

hy կռիվ (dispute or heated argument) · az küsüşmə (dispute or heated argument) · pl sprzeczka (dispute or heated argument) · hy վեճ (dispute or heated argument) · hu vita (dispute or heated argument) · ota نزاع (dispute or heated argument) · uz gʻavgʻo (dispute or heated argument) · it diverbio (dispute or heated argument) · tr dalaş (dispute or heated argument) · tr çıngar (dispute or heated argument) · sq grindje (dispute or heated argument) · mk ка́вга (dispute or heated argument) · cs hádka (dispute or heated argument) · la iūrgium (dispute or heated argument) · ks جٔگڑٕ (dispute or heated argument) · fi kiista (dispute or heated argument) · sk hádka (dispute or heated argument) · grc νεῖκος (dispute or heated argument) · nan-hbl 相罵 /相骂 (dispute or heated argument) · fi väittely (dispute or heated argument) · be сва́рка (dispute or heated argument) · fa-ira دَعْوا (dispute or heated argument) · sq degë (dispute or heated argument) · es riña (dispute or heated argument) · prs دَعْوَا (dispute or heated argument) · is rifrildi (dispute or heated argument) · ru перебра́нка (dispute or heated argument) · kk жанжал (dispute or heated argument) · eo disputo (dispute or heated argument) · es queja (basis or ground of dispute or objection — see also complaint) · hi विवाद (dispute or heated argument) · uz janjal (dispute or heated argument) · az küsülülük (dispute or heated argument) · yue 嘈交 (dispute or heated argument) · ne झगडा (dispute or heated argument) · es querella (basis or ground of dispute or objection — see also complaint) · it diatriba (dispute or heated argument) · chr ᎠᏘᏲᏍᏗ (dispute or heated argument) · sh сва̏ђа (dispute or heated argument) · fi kiistely (dispute or heated argument) · ga clampar (dispute or heated argument) · bn কাজিয়া (dispute or heated argument) · mi whakatete (dispute or heated argument) · ur جَھگْڑا (dispute or heated argument) · mi taute (dispute or heated argument) · ko 말다툼 (dispute or heated argument) · sv oenighet (basis or ground of dispute or objection — see also complaint) · az söyüşmə (dispute or heated argument) · ja 言い争い (dispute or heated argument) · pt querela (dispute or heated argument) · el λογομαχία (dispute or heated argument) · da uenighed (basis or ground of dispute or objection — see also complaint) · es discusión (dispute or heated argument) · izh riita (dispute or heated argument) · ko 싸움 (dispute or heated argument) · km ជម្លោះ (dispute or heated argument) · sh ка̑вга (dispute or heated argument) · tg низоъ (dispute or heated argument) · el καβγάς (dispute or heated argument) · ota پرخاش (dispute or heated argument) · el τσακωμός (dispute or heated argument) · prs نِزَاع (dispute or heated argument) · ro ceartă (dispute or heated argument) · ky чатак (dispute or heated argument) · mn хэрүүл (dispute or heated argument) · syl ꠇꠣꠎꠤꠀ (dispute or heated argument) · lv ķilda (dispute or heated argument) · nl dispuut (basis or ground of dispute or objection — see also complaint) · got 𐌾𐌹𐌿𐌺𐌰 (dispute or heated argument) · ks لَڑٲے (dispute or heated argument) · fi riita (dispute or heated argument) · es querella (dispute or heated argument) · cmn 吵架 (dispute or heated argument) · kk ұрыс-керіс (dispute or heated argument) · tl away (basis or ground of dispute or objection — see also complaint) · es problema (basis or ground of dispute or objection — see also complaint) · sh kȃvga (dispute or heated argument) · gl queixa (basis or ground of dispute or objection — see also complaint) · gl baralla (dispute or heated argument) · ko 다툼 (dispute or heated argument) · ky уруш (dispute or heated argument) · fi valitus (basis or ground of dispute or objection — see also complaint) · vi cãi vã (dispute or heated argument) · az qovğa (dispute or heated argument) · nl betwisting (basis or ground of dispute or objection — see also complaint) · az dava (dispute or heated argument) · it battibecco (dispute or heated argument) · ko 말씨름 (dispute or heated argument) · nl (ge)ruzie (dispute or heated argument) · es pelea (dispute or heated argument) · bg ка́раница (dispute or heated argument) · pdt Zank (dispute or heated argument) · it lite (dispute or heated argument) · ca baralla (dispute or heated argument) · ja 口喧嘩 (dispute or heated argument) · as কাজিয়া (dispute or heated argument) · gl rifa (dispute or heated argument) · es pelotera (dispute or heated argument) · ms pergaduhan (dispute or heated argument) · cu сваръ (dispute or heated argument) · nl geschilpunt (basis or ground of dispute or objection — see also complaint) · ko 입씨름 (dispute or heated argument) · tg ғавғо (dispute or heated argument) · ja 口論 (dispute or heated argument) · mh akwāāl (dispute or heated argument) · pl kłótnia (dispute or heated argument) · pl spór (dispute or heated argument) · hu perpatvar (dispute or heated argument) · az vuruşma (dispute or heated argument) · tr kavga (dispute or heated argument) · cs spor (dispute or heated argument) · nl dispuut (dispute or heated argument) · bcl iwal (dispute or heated argument) · tg ҷанҷол (dispute or heated argument) · id percekcokan (dispute or heated argument) · it bisticcio (dispute or heated argument) · prs غَوغَا (dispute or heated argument) · ga bruíon (dispute or heated argument) · kk ұрыс (dispute or heated argument) · da skænderi (dispute or heated argument) · alt кериш (dispute or heated argument) · fa-ira نِزَاع (dispute or heated argument) · ka დავა (dispute or heated argument) · pl awantura (dispute or heated argument) · eo kverelo (dispute or heated argument) · he רִיב (dispute or heated argument) · de Streit (dispute or heated argument) · es rencilla (dispute or heated argument) · pl utarczka (dispute or heated argument) · sv gräl (dispute or heated argument) · bho झगड़ा (dispute or heated argument) · nb krangel (dispute or heated argument) · syl ꠖꠞ꠆ꠛꠣꠞ (dispute or heated argument) · gd connsachadh (dispute or heated argument) · ug تالاش-تارتىش (dispute or heated argument) · pl zwada (dispute or heated argument) · pl swar (dispute or heated argument) · fi kina (dispute or heated argument) · got 𐍃𐌰𐌺𐌾𐍉 (dispute or heated argument) · az dalaşma (dispute or heated argument) · ce дов (dispute or heated argument) · sq zënkë (dispute or heated argument) · yue 嗌交 (dispute or heated argument) · nl onenigheid (dispute or heated argument) · gl lea (dispute or heated argument) · vi cãi cọ (dispute or heated argument) · fr dispute (dispute or heated argument) · tk gowga (dispute or heated argument) · hi झगड़ा (dispute or heated argument) · bn ঝগড়া (dispute or heated argument) · bn বিবাদ (basis or ground of dispute or objection — see also complaint) · fi sanasota (dispute or heated argument) · mi wheinga (dispute or heated argument) · hu veszekedés (dispute or heated argument) · it scaramuccia (dispute or heated argument) · es rencilla (basis or ground of dispute or objection — see also complaint) · es brega (dispute or heated argument) · fa-ira غُوغا (dispute or heated argument) · mk кара́ница (dispute or heated argument) · sk spor (dispute or heated argument) · pl spięcie (dispute or heated argument) · ru ссо́ра (dispute or heated argument) · sv dispyt (dispute or heated argument) · uk сва́рка (dispute or heated argument) · ota چكیش (dispute or heated argument) · sq degame (dispute or heated argument) · nan-hbl 冤家 (dispute or heated argument) · ka კამათი (dispute or heated argument) · ps شخړه (dispute or heated argument) · it disputa (dispute or heated argument) · th การทะเลาะ (dispute or heated argument) · gl liorta (dispute or heated argument) · uz urish (dispute or heated argument) · et tüli (dispute or heated argument) · ky кериш (dispute or heated argument) · ca plany (basis or ground of dispute or objection — see also complaint) · fr querelle (dispute or heated argument) · txb śalna (dispute or heated argument) · tk dawa (dispute or heated argument) · lt ginčas (dispute or heated argument) · ko 말싸움 (dispute or heated argument) · tk jedel (dispute or heated argument) · pt discussão (dispute or heated argument) · tl away (dispute or heated argument) · uz nizo (dispute or heated argument) · ar نِزَاع (dispute or heated argument) · vec bèga (dispute or heated argument) · nl twist (dispute or heated argument) · sq sharje (dispute or heated argument) · ug جېدەل (dispute or heated argument) · it litigio (dispute or heated argument) · bg кавга́ (dispute or heated argument) · bn বিবাদ (dispute or heated argument) · ga imreas (dispute or heated argument) · ru сва́ра (dispute or heated argument) · ru спор (dispute or heated argument) · az dalaş (dispute or heated argument) · it discussione (dispute or heated argument) · gd trod (dispute or heated argument) · pt queixa (basis or ground of dispute or objection — see also complaint) · sl prepir (dispute or heated argument) · mh akwāāl (basis or ground of dispute or objection — see also complaint) · bg сва́да (dispute or heated argument) · sh svȁđa (dispute or heated argument) · ar شِجَار (dispute or heated argument)

quarrel en · VERB · etymology 2

Pronunciation

• (Received-Pronunciation) audio
• /ˈkwɑɹəl/ (New-York-City)
• /ˈkwɔɹəl/ (General-American)
• /ˈkwɒɹ(ə)l/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• (General-American) audio
• kwŏrʹəl (New-York-City)
• kwôrʹəl (General-American)

Etymology

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”)).

Meanings

1. (also, figuratively, intransitive) To argue fiercely; to contend; to squabble; to cease to be on friendly terms, to fall out.
   • Nay, they [animals] feed quietly together while there is enough for them all: Quarrel onely when it begins to fail; and when 'tis ended, they ſcatter to ſeek out new encounters. Besides, thoſe called ſociable, quarrel in hunger and in luſt, as well as the others; [...] 1679, William Temple, “An Essay upon the Original and Nature of Government. […]”, in Miscellanea. […], London: […] A. M. and R. R. for Edw[ard] Gellibrand, […], →OCLC, page 61:
   • [T]here is no doubt but the facture or framing of the inward parts, is as full of difference, as the outward, and in that, is the Cauſe Continent of many diſeaſes, which not be obſerued, they quarrell many times with the humors which are not in fault, the fault being in the very frame and Mechanicke of the parte, which cannot be remoued by medicine alteratiue, but muſt be accomodate and palliate by dyets and medicines familiar. 1605, Francis Bacon, “The Second Booke”, in The Twoo Bookes of Francis Bacon. Of the Proficience and Aduancement of Learning, Diuine and Humane, London: […] [Thomas Purfoot and Thomas Creede] for Henrie Tomes, […], →OCLC, folio 41, verso:
   • I know, my dears, that when we recollect how patient and how mild he was; although he was a little, little child; we shall not quarrel easily among ourselves, and forget poor Tiny Tim in doing it. 1843 December 19, Charles Dickens, “Stave Four. The Last of the Spirits.”, in A Christmas Carol. […], London: Chapman & Hall, […], →OCLC, page 147:
2. (intransitive) To find fault; to cavil.
   • to quarrel with one’s lot
   • Be not too rigidly Cenſorious, / A ſtring may jarr in the beſt Maſters hand, / And the moſt skilfull Archer miſs his aim; / But in a Poem elegantly writ, / I will not quarrel with a ſlight miſtake, / Such as our Natures frailty may excuſe; [...] 1680, Horace, translated by Earl of Roscommon [i.e., Wentworth Dillon, 4th Earl of Roscommon], Horace’s Art of Poetry. […], London: […] Henry Herringman […], →OCLC, page 24:
3. (intransitive, obsolete) Followed by at: to disagree with; to take offence.
4. (qualifier:obsolete except Scotland, transitive) To argue or squabble with (someone).
   • [T]hey would ſay [...] that I had quarrell'd / My brother purpoſely, thereby to finde / An apt pretext, to baniſh them my houſe. 1598, Beniamin Ionson [i.e., Ben Jonson], “Euery Man in His Humour. A Comœdie. […]”, in The Workes of Beniamin Ionson (First Folio), London: […] Will[iam] Stansby, published 1616, →OCLC, Act II, scene i, page 21:

Forms

Deriveds

it takes two to quarrel · quarrel with · quarrel out · quarrelous · quarreller · quarreler · quarrelsome

Translations (113)

es querellarse (to argue strongly, contend, squabble) · az söyüşmək (to argue strongly, contend, squabble) · it litigare (to argue strongly, contend, squabble) · el μαλώνω (to argue strongly, contend, squabble) · cs hádat se (to argue strongly, contend, squabble) · it bisticciare (to argue strongly, contend, squabble) · el καβγαδίζω (to argue strongly, contend, squabble) · vi cãi cọ (to argue strongly, contend, squabble) · hu veszekedik (to argue strongly, contend, squabble) · km ឈ្លោះ (to argue strongly, contend, squabble) · it incriminare (to find fault — see also cavil) · az küsüşmək (to argue strongly, contend, squabble) · rup mi ntsertu (to argue strongly, contend, squabble) · nl twisten (to argue strongly, contend, squabble) · lo ປະແກກ (to argue strongly, contend, squabble) · nl redetwisten (to argue strongly, contend, squabble) · hi झगड़ना (to argue strongly, contend, squabble) · be сва́рыцца (to argue strongly, contend, squabble) · az sözləşmək (to argue strongly, contend, squabble) · ro interveni într-o ceartă (to argue strongly, contend, squabble) · lo ຖຽງ (to argue strongly, contend, squabble) · unm mahtëtunhe (to argue strongly, contend, squabble) · sh препирати се (to argue strongly, contend, squabble) · uk сва́ритися (to argue strongly, contend, squabble) · got 𐍃𐌰𐌺𐌰𐌽 (to argue strongly, contend, squabble) · no krangle (to argue strongly, contend, squabble) · ur جھگڑا کرنا (to argue strongly, contend, squabble) · bg ка́рам се (to argue strongly, contend, squabble) · fi kiistellä (to argue strongly, contend, squabble) · fi nipottaa (to find fault — see also cavil) · tl makipag-away (to argue strongly, contend, squabble) · ga bruíon (to argue strongly, contend, squabble) · nl ruziemaken (to argue strongly, contend, squabble) · sk hádať sa (to argue strongly, contend, squabble) · pt discutir (to argue strongly, contend, squabble) · ru брани́ться (to argue strongly, contend, squabble) · mi whewhei (to argue strongly, contend, squabble) · da skændes (to argue strongly, contend, squabble) · de sich streiten (to argue strongly, contend, squabble) · mi whakanihoniho (to argue strongly, contend, squabble) · izh riijellä (to argue strongly, contend, squabble) · fr se disputer (to argue strongly, contend, squabble) · de streiten (to argue strongly, contend, squabble) · ko 다투다 (to argue strongly, contend, squabble) · ca discutir (to argue strongly, contend, squabble) · az ağızlaşmaq (to argue strongly, contend, squabble) · vec begar (to argue strongly, contend, squabble) · el λογομαχώ (to argue strongly, contend, squabble) · sl prepirati se (to argue strongly, contend, squabble) · es disputar (to argue strongly, contend, squabble) · ru руга́ться (to argue strongly, contend, squabble) · th พิพาท (to argue strongly, contend, squabble) · grc νεικέω (to argue strongly, contend, squabble) · cmn 吵架 (to argue strongly, contend, squabble) · es querellar (to argue strongly, contend, squabble) · ja 言い争う (to argue strongly, contend, squabble) · sq grihem (to argue strongly, contend, squabble) · mi tarahae (to argue strongly, contend, squabble) · hu veszekszik (to argue strongly, contend, squabble) · ja 口論する (to argue strongly, contend, squabble) · es discrepar (to find fault — see also cavil) · ka კამათი (to argue strongly, contend, squabble) · el τσακώνομαι (to argue strongly, contend, squabble) · fi riidellä (to argue strongly, contend, squabble) · la iurgō (to argue strongly, contend, squabble) · yue 詏 /𬣦 (to argue strongly, contend, squabble) · mk се препира (to argue strongly, contend, squabble) · nl ruzieën (to argue strongly, contend, squabble) · ja 口喧嘩する (to argue strongly, contend, squabble) · mh akwāāl (to argue strongly, contend, squabble) · hy վիճել (to argue strongly, contend, squabble) · ko 싸우다 (to argue strongly, contend, squabble) · mi whei (to argue strongly, contend, squabble) · ro a se certa (to argue strongly, contend, squabble) · fi kinata (to argue strongly, contend, squabble) · mn хэрэлдэх (to argue strongly, contend, squabble) · az savaşmaq (to argue strongly, contend, squabble) · bg придирам (to find fault — see also cavil) · tl mag-away (to argue strongly, contend, squabble) · pt querelar (to argue strongly, contend, squabble) · my ရန်ဖြစ် (to argue strongly, contend, squabble) · hy գժտվել (to argue strongly, contend, squabble) · ne झगडा गर्नु (to argue strongly, contend, squabble) · grc ἐρίζω (to argue strongly, contend, squabble) · mn муудалцах (to argue strongly, contend, squabble) · yi צעקריגן זיך (to argue strongly, contend, squabble) · it discutere (to argue strongly, contend, squabble) · sv krångla (to argue strongly, contend, squabble) · ru препира́ться (to argue strongly, contend, squabble) · fa ستیزیدن (to argue strongly, contend, squabble) · gd troid (to argue strongly, contend, squabble) · es refertar (to argue strongly, contend, squabble) · lo ທະເລາະ (to argue strongly, contend, squabble) · ru спо́рить (to argue strongly, contend, squabble) · th ทะเลาะ (to argue strongly, contend, squabble) · fr se quereller (to argue strongly, contend, squabble) · got 𐌾𐌹𐌿𐌺𐌰𐌽 (to argue strongly, contend, squabble) · vi cãi vã (to argue strongly, contend, squabble) · nl bekvechten (to argue strongly, contend, squabble) · sh prepirati se (to argue strongly, contend, squabble) · sq grindem (to argue strongly, contend, squabble) · ru ссо́риться (to argue strongly, contend, squabble) · es reñir (to argue strongly, contend, squabble) · gd connsaich (to argue strongly, contend, squabble) · ko 말다툼하다 (to argue strongly, contend, squabble) · cmn 拌嘴 (to argue strongly, contend, squabble) · cy ffraeo (to argue strongly, contend, squabble) · de sich zanken (to argue strongly, contend, squabble) · ms bergaduh (to argue strongly, contend, squabble) · mi whakanehenehe (to argue strongly, contend, squabble) · enm flyten (to argue strongly, contend, squabble) · ca barallar-se (to argue strongly, contend, squabble) · ar تَشَاجَرَ (to argue strongly, contend, squabble)

quarrel en · NOUN · etymology 3

Pronunciation

• (Received-Pronunciation) audio
• /ˈkwɑɹəl/ (New-York-City)
• /ˈkwɔɹəl/ (General-American)
• /ˈkwɒɹ(ə)l/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• (General-American) audio
• kwŏrʹəl (New-York-City)
• kwôrʹəl (General-American)

Etymology

PIE word *kʷetwóres 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.

Meanings

1. (countable, 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.
   • Here be two arblasts, comrade, with windlaces and quarrells—to the barbican with you, and see you drive each bolt through a Saxon brain. 1819 December 20 (indicated as 1820), Walter Scott, chapter XIV, in Ivanhoe; a Romance. […], volume III, Edinburgh: […] Archibald Constable and Co.; London: Hurst, Robinson, and Co. […], →OCLC, page 281:
   • Twanged the ſtring, out flew the quarell long, / And through the ſubtile aire did ſinging pas, / It hit the knight the buckles rich among, / Wherewith his pretious girdle faſt'ned was, / It bruſed them and pearſt his hawberke ſtrong, / Some little blood downe trickled on the gras; [...] 1600, [Torquato Tasso], “The Seuenth Booke of Godfrey of Bulloigne”, in Edward Fairefax [i.e., Edward Fairfax], transl., Godfrey of Bulloigne, or The Recouerie of Ierusalem. […], London: […] Ar[nold] Hatfield, for I[saac] Iaggard and M[atthew] Lownes, →OCLC, stanza 103, page 137:
   • The small cross-bow, called the arbalet or arbalest, is said to have been invented by the Sicilians. It was carried by the foot-soldiers, and when used was charged with a quarrel or bar-bolt, that is, a small arrow with a flat head, one of which occasioned the death of Harold [Godwinson] at the battle of Hastings, [...] 1829 January–July, [Edward Augustus Kendall], “Illustrations of History. Archery.”, in The Olio; or Museum of Entertainment, volume III, London: […] Shackell and Carfrae [for] Joseph Shackell, […], →OCLC, page 174, column 2:
   • "What was that?" he asked, as a hissing, sharp-drawn voice seemed to whisper in his ear. The steersman smiled, and pointed with his foot to where a short heavy cross-bow quarrel stuck quivering in the boards. 1891, A[rthur] Conan Doyle, “How the Yellow Cog Fought the Two Rover Galleys”, in The White Company […], volume II, London: Smith, Elder, & Co., […], →OCLC, page 71:
2. (countable) A diamond- or square-shaped piece of glass forming part of a lattice window.
3. (Northern-England, countable) A square tile; a quarry tile; (uncountable) such tiles collectively.
4. (countable, obsolete, rare) A cutting tool or chisel with a diamond- or square-shaped end.
5. (countable, obsolete) A small square-shaped opening in window tracery.

Forms

Relateds

quarry · quarl

Synonyms

quarry · quarry · carrel · quarry

Translations (15)

ru болт (arrow or bolt for a crossbow or arbalest) · ja タイル (square tile — see also quarry tile) · pt seta (arrow or bolt for a crossbow or arbalest) · fr carreau (arrow or bolt for a crossbow or arbalest) · de Bolzen (arrow or bolt for a crossbow or arbalest) · hu burkolólap (square tile — see also quarry tile) · hu mozaiklap (square tile — see also quarry tile) · ca cairó (square tile — see also quarry tile) · pt quadrelo (arrow or bolt for a crossbow or arbalest) · ca cairell (arrow or bolt for a crossbow or arbalest) · fi vasama (arrow or bolt for a crossbow or arbalest) · sv skäkta (arrow or bolt for a crossbow or arbalest) · it quadrello (arrow or bolt for a crossbow or arbalest) · uk болт (arrow or bolt for a crossbow or arbalest) · pl bełt (arrow or bolt for a crossbow or arbalest)