Slapfights

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A playful or aggressive form of competition involving light, often humorous, hitting between participants
2. A contest characterized by participants striking each other with open hands, usually for entertainment
3. An informal, typically non-violent disagreement or struggle marked by light slaps among opponents

Etymology: "Slapfights" is simply the plural of "slapfight," a compound formed from "slap" and "fight." The plural form is what you would use when describing several such contests, or more than one occasion of a match-up between the same participants. The first element, "slap," is an old word for a sharp blow with the open hand, and "fight" supplies the sense of a contest between opponents. Joined together, the pairing describes a bout where the combatants trade light, often comical blows rather than inflicting serious harm. The compound is transparent: a reader can work out its meaning from its two halves without needing to know any special history.

Synonyms: brawls, fights, scuffles, altercations, skirmishes

Antonyms: peace, harmony, agreement, truce, reconciliation