Quarrel

(kwŏr'rel), n. [O. Eng. querēle, q. v., O. Fr. querelle, N. Fr. querelle, Pr. querela, querella, Sp. querella, queja, Pg. & It. querela, from Lat. querela, querella, a complaint, from queri, to complain.] 1. An angry contest; a brawl; a falling out; an altercation; an affray. On open seas their quarrels they debate. Dryden. 2. Cause of dispute or contest; occasion of altercation; ground of hostility. [Obs.] No man hath any quarrel to me. Shak. He thought he had a good quarrel to attack him. Holinshed. 3. Earnest desire or longing. [Obs.] Holland. To pick a quarrel, to seek willfully occasion of contention; to force an affray or contest. “Now, you pick a quarrel.” Shak. Syn.—Brawl; broil; squabble; affray; feud; tumult; contest; dispute; altercation; contention.

v. i. [imp. & p. p. QUARRELED, or QUARRELLED; p. pr. & vb. n. QUARRELING, or QUARRELLING.] [O. Fr. quereler, N. Fr. quereller, Pr. querellar, Sp. querellar, quejar, Pg. querelar, It. querelare. See the noun.]

1Sense 1. To dispute violently, or with loud and angry words; to wrangle; to scold; to altercate; to fall out; —used of two persons, or of a small number.

Our people quarrel with obedience. Shak.

2Sense 2. To find fault; to cavil.

I will not quarrel with a slight mistake. Roscommon.

3Sense 3. To disagree; to be at variance; not to be in accordance.

Some things arise of strange and quarreling kind. The fore part lion, and a snake behind. Cowley.

v. t. 1. To quarrel with. B. Jonson. They quarrel thee, and would give over The bargain made to serve thee. Herbert. 2. To compel by a quarrel; as, to quarrel a man out of his estate or rights.