battle royal

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Last updated

June 22, 2026

Quick Summary

A "battle royal" refers to a fight involving more than two combatants, where the last one remaining is the winner. It can also describe any violent struggle or a heated dispute. The term has been in use since at least 1671.12

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cockfighting
…particular ire of moralists, however—the battle royal, in which a number of birds were “set” (i.e., placed in the pit at the same time) and allowed to remain until all but one, the victor, were killed or disabled, and the Welsh main, in which eight pairs were matched, the eight…
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…particular ire of moralists, however—the battle royal, in which a number of birds were “set” (i.e., placed in the pit at the same time) and allowed to remain until all but one, the victor, were killed or disabled, and the Welsh main, in which eight pairs were matched, the eight…
Read More