donnybrook

Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

Contents 1 English 1.1 Etymology 1.2 Pronunciation 1.3 Noun

[edit] English

[edit] Etymology

Named from Donnybrook, a suburb of Dublin, the site of a notoriously disorderly annual fair.

[edit] Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈdɒnɪbrʊk/

[edit] Noun

donnybrook (plural donnybrooks)

1. A brawl or fracas; a scene of chaos.
   • 1888, Rudyard Kipling, ‘His Chance in Life’, Plain Tales from the Hills, Folio 2005, p. 56:

     But the Hindus turned out and broke their heads; when, finding lawlessness pleasant, Hindus and Muhammadans together raised an aimless sort of Donnybrook just to see how far they could go.

   • 2002, Joseph O'Connor, Star of the Sea, Vintage 2003, p. 223:

     This was no innocuous donnybrook but a veritable carnival of thuggee.