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| ==Origin== | | ==Origin== |
| French ''mêlée'', from Old French ''meslee'', from ''mesler'' to mix | | French ''mêlée'', from Old French ''meslee'', from ''mesler'' to mix |
− | *[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/17th_century 1648] | + | *[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/17th_century 1648] |
− | The French term is the feminine past participle of the verb ''mêler'' "to mix". Nominalized, it refers to any [[confused]] tangle or [[agitated]] scramble, in particular unordered [[combat]]. The term descends from Old French ''meslede'', from Vulgar Latin ''misculāta'' "mixed", from [[Latin]] ''miscēre'' "to mix"; compare [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M%C3%A9lange mélange], [[milieu]]. Like other common foreign-derived terms used in [[English]], the word is sometimes written without accents (i.e. as "melee"). | + | The French term is the feminine past participle of the verb ''mêler'' "to mix". Nominalized, it refers to any [[confused]] tangle or [[agitated]] scramble, in particular unordered [[combat]]. The term descends from Old French ''meslede'', from Vulgar Latin ''misculāta'' "mixed", from [[Latin]] ''miscēre'' "to mix"; compare [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M%C3%A9lange mélange], [[milieu]]. Like other common foreign-derived terms used in [[English]], the word is sometimes written without accents (i.e. as "melee"). |
| ==Definition== | | ==Definition== |
| *1: a [[confused]] [[struggle]]; especially : a hand-to-hand fight among several people | | *1: a [[confused]] [[struggle]]; especially : a hand-to-hand fight among several people |
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| '''Melee''' French: mêlée, the French spelling is also quite frequent in [[English]] [[writing]]), generally refers to disorganized close [[combat]] involving a group of fighters. A melee ensues when groups become locked together in combat with no regard to group [[tactics]] or fighting as an [[organized]] unit; each [[participant]] fights as an [[individual]]. | | '''Melee''' French: mêlée, the French spelling is also quite frequent in [[English]] [[writing]]), generally refers to disorganized close [[combat]] involving a group of fighters. A melee ensues when groups become locked together in combat with no regard to group [[tactics]] or fighting as an [[organized]] unit; each [[participant]] fights as an [[individual]]. |
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− | During the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle_Ages Middle Ages], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tournament_(medieval) tournaments] often contained a ''mêlée'' consisting of knights fighting one another on foot or while mounted, either divided into two sides or fighting as a free-for-all. The object was to capture opposing knights so that they could be ransomed, and this could be a very profitable [[business]] for such skilled knights as [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Marshal,_1st_Earl_of_Pembroke William Marshal]. There was a tournament ground covering several square miles in northern France to which knights came from all over Europe to prove themselves in quite real [[combat]]. This was, in fact, the original form of tournaments and the most popular between the twelfth and thirteenth centuries—[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jousting jousting] being a later development, and one that did not completely displace the ''mêlée'' until many more centuries had passed. The original ''mêlée'' was engaged with normal [[weapons]] and fought with as much [[danger]] as a normal battle. Rules slowly tempered the danger, but at all times the ''mêlée'' was more dangerous than the joust. | + | During the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle_Ages Middle Ages], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tournament_(medieval) tournaments] often contained a ''mêlée'' consisting of knights fighting one another on foot or while mounted, either divided into two sides or fighting as a free-for-all. The object was to capture opposing knights so that they could be ransomed, and this could be a very profitable [[business]] for such skilled knights as [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Marshal,_1st_Earl_of_Pembroke William Marshal]. There was a tournament ground covering several square miles in northern France to which knights came from all over Europe to prove themselves in quite real [[combat]]. This was, in fact, the original form of tournaments and the most popular between the twelfth and thirteenth centuries—[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jousting jousting] being a later development, and one that did not completely displace the ''mêlée'' until many more centuries had passed. The original ''mêlée'' was engaged with normal [[weapons]] and fought with as much [[danger]] as a normal battle. Rules slowly tempered the danger, but at all times the ''mêlée'' was more dangerous than the joust. |
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− | The term "melee" has been extended to refer to other forms of [[combat]], such as a naval or [[armor]] battle that is fought at abnormally close range with little central [[control]] once it starts. The [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Trafalgar Battle of Trafalgar] became a ''melee'' when the British ships broke the French and Spanish line, precipitating a ship-to-ship battle. In this instance, the ''melee'' was planned; [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lord_Nelson Admiral Nelson] used the superior fighting [[qualities]] of his crews to offset the greater French and Spanish numbers. | + | The term "melee" has been extended to refer to other forms of [[combat]], such as a naval or [[armor]] battle that is fought at abnormally close range with little central [[control]] once it starts. The [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Trafalgar Battle of Trafalgar] became a ''melee'' when the British ships broke the French and Spanish line, precipitating a ship-to-ship battle. In this instance, the ''melee'' was planned; [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lord_Nelson Admiral Nelson] used the superior fighting [[qualities]] of his crews to offset the greater French and Spanish numbers. |
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− | ''Melee'' is occasionally used to describe disorganized [[groups]] of people and vehicles, such as [[mobs]], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mosh_pit mosh pits], and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Traffic_jam traffic jams]. | + | ''Melee'' is occasionally used to describe disorganized [[groups]] of people and vehicles, such as [[mobs]], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mosh_pit mosh pits], and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Traffic_jam traffic jams]. |
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− | It is also used in sport. For example, the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_Football_League Australian Football League] has an official ''melee'' rule which is used to fine players involved in large on-field brawls, regardless of whether or not they throw punches. | + | It is also used in sport. For example, the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_Football_League Australian Football League] has an official ''melee'' rule which is used to fine players involved in large on-field brawls, regardless of whether or not they throw punches. |
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| [[Category: History]] | | [[Category: History]] |
| [[Category: Sociology]] | | [[Category: Sociology]] |