‖ mêlée
(ˈmɛleɪ, ˈmeɪ-)
Also melée, melee.
[Fr.: see medley, mellay.]
1. A mixed or irregular fight between two parties of combatants, a skirmish. Also transf., a lively contention or debate.
| a 1648 Ld. Herbert Autobiog. in Life (1886) 74, I cannot deny but a demivolte with courbettes, so that they be not too high, may be useful in a fight or mêlée. 1765 H. Walpole Lett. (1857) IV. 346, I almost wish for anything that may put an end to my being concerned in the mêlée. 1837 W. Irving Capt. Bonneville II. 100 In this mêlée, one white man was wounded. 1871 J. Leighton Paris under Commune lxviii. 243 Already, yesterday the mêlée of a battle could be distinguished from the fort of Vauves. |
2. [perh. a different word.] Small diamonds less than about a carat in weight.
| 1911 L. Cohen Reminisc. Kimberley 267 (Pettman), On a certain day I had entrusted him with two or three hundred carats of melée—small stones—to sell. 1920 Daily Tel. 22 June 1/2 Stones of various weights from 13/4 carats downwards, and a quantity of melee. 1962 R. Webster Gems I. ii. 39 Farther down the scale are mêlée which are crystals less than 1 carat in weight. 1972 Daily Tel. (Colour Suppl.) 30 June 10/2 Stones under one carat, known as Melée, are divided into fewer categories, but with subdivisions of these main ones according to colour, quality.., and of course size, there are well over 2,000 kinds. |