free fight
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
A fight conducted on the Irishman’s principle—"Sure, wherever you see a head, hit it." The term is, however, American, so the practice may be considered fairly general.
Era: ca. 1874 (Victorian)
Where it’s used:
Origin
British & Irish English
Sources & notes
Historical definition reproduced from Hotten’s The Slang Dictionary (1874, public domain; Project Gutenberg #42108, retrieved 2026-07-31). Reflects the attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “free fight” mean?
A fight conducted on the Irishman’s principle—"Sure, wherever you see a head, hit it." The term is, however, American, so the practice may be considered fairly general.
Is “free fight” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.