In criminal law . The fighting of two or more persons in some public place to the terror of the people. Burton v. Com.. 60 S. W. 526, 22 Ky. Law Rep. 1315: Thompson v. State, 70 Ala. 26; State v. Allen. 11 N. C. 356. It differs from a riot in not being premeditated ; for if any persons meet together upon any lawful or innocent occasion, and happen on a sudden to engage in fighting, they are not guilty of a riot, but an affray only; and in that case none are guilty except those actually engaged in it. Ilawk. I’. C. bk. 1, c. 05.
Black’s Law Online Dictionary
