melees

noun

1. 1.A battle fought at close range; hand-to-hand combat; brawling.
2. 2.A noisy, confused or tumultuous fight, argument or scrap.
3. 3.Any any confused, disorganised, disordered or chaotic situation.
4. 4.Lively contention or debate, skirmish.
5. 5.A cavalry exercise in which two groups of riders try to cut paper plumes off the helmets of their opponents, the contest continuing until no member of one group retains his plume.