rixa (noun F) : perh. root rig, whence ringor; the suffix -sa like noxa from noc-eo; hence, prop., the wide opening of the mouth.
* A quarrel, brawl, dispute, contest, strife, contention (class.; esp. freq. after the Aug. period; syn.: contentio, altercatio, disceptatio, jurgium): ecce nova turba atque rixa,Cic. Verr. 2, 4, 66, § 148: rixa ac prope proelium fuit,Liv. 2, 18: rixa sedata est,id. 2, 29: in rixā esse,id. 40, 14: in rixam ire,Quint. 6, 4, 13: sive geris jocos Seu rixam et insanos amores,Hor. C. 3, 21, 3: rixa super mero Debellata,id. ib. 1, 18, 8: Academiae nostrae cum Zenone magna rixa est,Cic. Fam. 9, 22, 1: pietatis rixa,Mart. 1, 37, 3: jurgia primum, mox rixa,Tac. H. 1, 64.—Plur.: corrupta jurgiis aut rixis disciplina,Tac. H. 2, 27 fin.: crebrae,id. G. 22: sanguineae,Hor. C. 1, 27, 4: immodicae,id. ib. 1, 13, 10.—Prov.: a lasso rixam quaeri, v. lassus.
* In gen., a battle, contest (very rare): major cum Oceano quam cum ipsis navibus rixa,Flor. 3, 10, 5. — Of beasts: deque tuo fiet ... Insatiabilibus corpore rixa lupis,Ov. Ib. 170; Col. 9, 15, 4; Plin. 11, 17, 18, § 58.