dogfight

Plural: dogfights

Noun

• a fiercely disputed contest
  • "their rancor dated from a political dogfight between them"
  • "a real dogfight for third place"
  • "a prolonged dogfight over their rival bids for the contract"
• disorderly fighting
• an aerial engagement between fighter planes
• a violent fight between dogs (sometimes organized illegally for entertainment and gambling)
• A twisting turning battle between two or more military aircraft, especially between fighters.
• A fight between dogs, especially as part of the blood sport of dogfighting.

Verb

• arrange for an illegal dogfight
• engage in an aerial battle with another fighter plane
• To engage in a battle between fighter planes.

Examples

• "Missiles exhausted, the pilot was forced to close and dogfight with his opponent."
• "The two bi-planes swirled around each other like angry wasps in a violent dogfight."

Synonyms

hassle, rough-and-tumble, scuffle, tussle

Related Words

catfight, furball