ˈfrākəs also ˈfrak-, Brit usually ˈfra(ˌ)kä noun
( plural fracases -sə̇z ; or British fracas -äz)
Etymology: French, din, hubbub, row, from Middle French, from Old Italian fracasso, from fracassare to break into pieces, shatter, destroy, from (assumed) Vulgar Latin, blend of Latin frangere to break and quassare to shake, break into pieces — more at break , quash
: a noisy quarrel : brawl , fight , altercation
there was suddenly a fracas , and one of them clenched his fists and hit another full in the face — E.V.Lucas
the most violent fracas in … parliamentary history resulted in hurled benches and three injuries — Collier's Year Book
Synonyms: see brawl