- Today's Word
Donnybrook
[DAH-nee-brook]
Definition
- (noun) A noisy, chaotic, or rowdy brawl or dispute. It often refers to a situation that has descended into a heated argument, a physical fight, or a general state of confusion and disorder.
Example
The political debate quickly turned into a donnybrook, with candidates shouting over each other and trading personal insults instead of discussing the issues at hand.
Fun Fact
The term “donnybrook” originated from the notorious Donnybrook Fair, an annual event in Dublin, Ireland, known for its drunken revelry and brawling. The fair’s reputation for chaos and disorder led to the word “donnybrook” being used to describe any rowdy or disorderly situation.
(verb) To criticize someone or something severely and publicly, often with harsh or scathing language.
The columnist excoriated the company’s leadership for ignoring repeated safety warnings.
Excoriate comes from the Latin excoriare, meaning “to strip off the skin,” from ex- (“off”) and corium (“hide” or “skin”). While the word originally described physical abrasion, its meaning shifted metaphorically over time to describe verbal attacks so harsh they feel skin-deep, leaving nothing protected.