passage of arms

plural passages of arms · alternative passage at arms

1. A chivalric feat of arms involving the forcing of a passage protected by a knight or a group of knights.
2. Any feat of arms, especially when used to display the prowess of the participants.
3. A fight; (figuratively), an argument or verbal altercation.

   The lieutenant in charge of the traffic is a rude little bully, and Antonio has a passage at arms with him.

   1944, Iris Origo, War in Val d'Orcia, Pushkin Press, published 2017, page 259

   1 more example

   [S]he is the high standard of comparison among the neighbouring wives […], who in any domestic passages of arms habitually call upon their husbands to look at the difference between their position and Mrs. Snagsby’s[…].

   1852, Charles Dickens, chapter 10, in Bleak House