See Also: melee(dictionary)
melee(dictionary)

melee (iou)



melee noun. Also melee, melee. M17.
[French from Old French mellee pa. ppl adjective of meller var. of mesler MEDDLE verb. Sense 2 prob. a different word. Cf. MEDLEY, MELLAY.]
A battle at close quarters, a hand-to-hand fight; a confused struggle or skirmish, esp. involving many people; a crush, turmoil; a muddle. M17.
collect. Small diamonds less than about a carat in weight. E20.