Quarrel

Pronunciation

• RP IPA: /ˈkwÉ’rÉ™l/
• US IPA: /ˈkwÉ”rÉ™l/, enPR: 'kwôrÉ™l; IPA: /ˈkwÉ‘rÉ™l/
• Rhymes: -É’rÉ™l

From Old French querele (modern French querelle), itself from Latin querella ("complaint"), from queror ("I lament, I complain").

Replaced Old English sacan by 1340 as “ground for complaint”.

Full definition of quarrel

Noun

1. A verbal dispute or heated argument.We got into a silly quarrel about what food to order.
• Quarrels would not last long if the fault were only on one side.
2. A ground of dispute or objection; a complaint.A few customers in the shop had some quarrels with us, so we called for the manager.
• Herodias had a quarrel against him, and would have killed him. - Bible, Mark vi. 19
• You mistake, sir. I am sure no man hath any quarrel to me. - Shakespeare, Twelfth Night, Act 3, scene 4
3. (obsolete) earnest desire or longing.

Synonyms

Related terms

• querent

Verb

1. (intransitive) To disagree.
2. (intransitive) To contend, argue strongly, squabble.
• Sir W. TempleBeasts called sociable quarrel in hunger and lust.
3. (intransitive) To find fault; to cavil.to quarrel with one's lot
• RoscommonI will not quarrel with a slight mistake.
4. (transitive, obsolete) To argue or squabble with.
• Ben JonsonI had quarrelled my brother purposely.

Derived terms

• quarreler, quarreller
• quarrelsome

From Middle English as "square-headed bolt for a crossbow" c.1225, from Old French quarel (modern French carreau), from Vulgar Latin *quadrellus, the diminutive of Latin quadrus ("a square"), related to quattuor "four".

Noun

1. A diamond-shaped piece of coloured glass forming part of a stained glass window.
2. A square tile; quarry tile.
3. A square-headed arrow for a crossbow.
• 1600, Edward Fairfax, The Jerusalem Delivered of Tasso, Book VII, ciii:Twanged the string, out flew the quarrel long,
• And through the subtle air did singing pass.
• Sir J. Mandevilleto shoot with arrows and quarrel
• Sir Walter Scotttwo arblasts, ... with windlaces and quarrels
• 1829. The Olio; or, Museum of Entertainment, page 174small cross-bow was carried by the foot-soldiers, and when used was charged with a quarrel or bar-bolt, that is, a small arrow with a flat head
• 2000. George R. R. Martin, , page 379Satin scooped up his crossbow and sent a few quarrels after them as they ran, to see them off the faster.
• A small opening in window tracery, of which the cusps etc. make the form nearly square.
• A four-sided cutting tool or chisel with a diamond-shaped end.