pugna, ae, 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).
I 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 , id. 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.—
II Transf.
A 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.—
B 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. 899: 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.