BATTLE

Fertile. See Battel, a. [Obs.]

A general action, fight, or encounter, in which all the divisions of an army are or may be engaged; an engagement; a combat.

A struggle; a contest; as, the battle of life. The whole intellectual battle that had at its center the best poem of the best poet of that day. H. Morley.

A division of an army; a battalion. [Obs.] The king divided his army into three battles. Bacon. The cavalry, by way of distinction, was called the battle, and on it alone depended the fate of every action. Robertson.

The main body, as distinct from the van and rear; battalia. [Obs.] Hayward.

To join in battle; to contend in fight; as, to battle over theories. To meet in arms, and battle in the plain. Prior.

To assail in battle; to fight.