A naval spectacle; a mock sea battle put on by the ancient Romans.

synonym: naumachy.

Roget 720: contention, strife; contest, contestation^†; struggle; belligerency; opposition etc. 708.    controversy, polemics; debate etc. (discussion) 476; war of words, logomachy^†, litigation; paper war; high words etc. (quarrel) 713; sparring etc. v.. competition, rivalry; corrivalry^†, corrivalship^†, agonism^†, concours^†, match, race, horse racing, heat, steeple chase, handicap; regatta; field day; sham fight, Derby day; turf, sporting, bullfight, tauromachy^†, gymkhana^†; boat race, torpids^†.    wrestling, greco-roman wrestling; pugilism, boxing, fisticuffs, the manly art of self-defense; spar, mill, set-to, round, bout, event, prize fighting; quarterstaff, single stick; gladiatorship^†, gymnastics; jiujitsu, jujutsu, kooshti^†, sumo; athletics, athletic sports; games of skill etc. 840.    shindy^†; fracas etc. (discord) 713; clash of arms; tussle, scuffle, broil, fray; affray, affrayment^†; velitation^†; colluctation^†, luctation^†; brabble^†, brigue^†, scramble, melee, scrimmage, stramash^†, bushfighting^†.    free fight, stand up fight, hand to hand, running fight.    conflict, skirmish; rencounter^†, encounter; rencontre^†, collision, affair, brush, fight; battle, battle royal; combat, action, engagement, joust, tournament; tilt, tilting [Mediev.]; tournay^†, list; pitched battle.    death struggle, struggle for life or death, life or death struggle, Armageddon^†.    hard knocks, sharp contest, tug of war.    naval engagement, naumachia^†, sea fight.    duel, duello [It]; single combat, monomachy^†, satisfaction, passage d'armes [Fr.], passage of arms, affair of honor; triangular duel; hostile meeting, digladiation^†; deeds of arms, feats of arms; appeal to arms etc. (warfare) 722.    pugnacity; combativeness etc. adj.; bone of contention etc. 713.    ... show more

Dutch: naumachia