gunfight

American  

[guhn-fahyt] / ˈgʌnˌfaɪt /

noun

1. a battle between two or more people or groups armed with guns, gun, especially a confrontation between two gunfighters using revolvers in the frontier days of the American West.

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gunfight British  

/ ˈɡʌnˌfaɪt /

noun

1. a fight between persons using firearms

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Other Word Forms

• gunfighter noun
• gunfighting noun

Etymology

Origin of gunfight

First recorded in 1650–60; gun ¹ + fight

Example Sentences

It was a pre-Thanksgiving afternoon that few Americans could have imagined: U.S. troops defending themselves in a gunfight in the streets of the American capital.

From The Wall Street Journal

So often England have arrived in Australia armed only with knives for a gunfight.

From BBC

"It changed the scene and made it personal. Like a sheriff and a bad cowboy coming in to have a gunfight."

From BBC

Too often England have arrived at an Australian gunfight armed only with knives.

From BBC

Expecting perhaps a 12-minute gunfight, it instead lasted only two as the actors’ discipline fell apart, and the SEALs cut them to shreds.

From Los Angeles Times