furball
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
A large, disorganized battle involving many different aircraft (especially fighters) or warships.
Register: slang
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
[…]But, as with the furball that had broken out around San Francisco, things escalated once again, as Teruzuki rolled better on her perception check, ambushing Sterett and blowing enough holes in her to force the U.S. destroyer to withdraw.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “furball” mean?
A large, disorganized battle involving many different aircraft (especially fighters) or warships.
Is “furball” formal or informal?
furball is generally slang.