pugna (noun F) : root pug, in pugno and pungo; cf. pugil, prop.
* A fight fist to fist, man to man; hence, in gen., a fight between individuals or armies, a battle, combat, action, engagement (cf.: dimicatio, proelium).
* Lit.: dictator eam pugnam laudibus tulit (of the single combat of Torquatus),Liv. 7, 10 fin.: nonnumquam res ad manus atque ad pugnam veniebat,came to blows,Cic. Verr. 2, 5, 11, § 28; Liv. 2, 46: diuturnitate pugnae defessi proelio excedebant,Caes. B. G. 3, 4, 3: alii nuntiant dictatori omnes legiones Etruscorum capessisse pugnam,Liv. 10, 5, 41: ex omnibus pugnis (Pompeii), quae sunt innumerabiles,Cic. Mur. 16, 34: exitus pugnarum,id. Mil. 21, 56: equestris,a cavalry action,Cic. Verr. 2, 4, 55, § 122: magna,Liv. 22, 7: pedestris,Verg. A. 11, 707: Actia,Hor. Ep. 1, 18, 61: navalis,Nep. Arist. 2, 1: gladiatorum,Suet. Aug. 45: prospera,Suet. Calig. 35: mala,Sall. J. 56, 3; Cic. Div. 2, 25, 54: singularis,a duel,Macr. S. 5, 2.
* Transf.
* Troops drawn up for battle, a line of battle (rare): ordinata per principes hastatosque ac triarios pugna,Liv. 22, 5: mediam pugnam tueri,the middle line, central division,id. 22, 45; cf.: segregat pugnam eorum,id. 1, 25: pugnam mutare,Curt. 3, 2, 14.
* A battle, contest, dispute, quarrel, in gen. (rare but class.): dabo aliam pugnam magnam,Plaut. Ps. 1, 5, 110: pugnam conserui seni,id. Bacch. 4, 9, 43; Ter. Eun. 5, 2, 60: quanta pugna est doctissimorum hominum,Cic. Div. 2, 51, 105: initurus forensium certaminum pugnam,Quint. 5, 12, 22; 8, 6, 1; 5, 7, 35: pugna inter testem et patronum,id. 6, 4, 21: rerum naturae pugna secum,Plin. 2, 33, 38, § 102: audiet pugnas juventus,stories of battle,Hor. C. 1, 2, 23: pugnas bibit aure vulgus,id. ib. 2, 13, 31.—In mal. part., Mart. 10, 38, 6.

s. TLL