battle royal

noun

Etymology: Preserves the French pattern of adjective after noun. Royal here means “grand in scale”.

1. A fight involving three or more individuals, teams, or factions; fought until one person, team, or faction is left standing.

   “I was told that since I was to be there anyway I might as well take part in the battle royal to be fought by some of my schoolmates as part of the entertainment.”

   “Shinty, once a battle royal between villages, is still a far tougher game than hockey, its nearest Sassenach equivalent.”

2. A heated discussion or debate.