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mischia

brawl; scrum; mêlée

noun MEES-kyah Rare

Origin: From mescolare (to mix), via Old Italian.

Usage Note

Mischia describes a confused, close-quarters struggle — a street brawl, a rugby scrum, or a chaotic melee on the pitch. In rugby it is the specific technical term for a scrum (mischia ordinata). The double meaning (sports vs. violent disorder) means context matters. The plural is mischie.

Examples

"È scoppiata una mischia dopo il fischio finale."

Natural Translation

A brawl broke out after the final whistle.

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