Definition of "battaile"

Therewith they gan to hurtlen greedily, Redoubted battaile ready to darrayne, And clash their shields, and shake their swords on hy, […]

1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book I”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie

Against his foes in battaile shewing force, And after fight in victorie remorse.

1592, Philippe de Mornay, A Discourse of Life and Death

Withouten battaile, fight, or stroke at all, / Ev'n at noon day I will you safely guide.

1600, Edward Fairfax, The Jerusalem Delivered of Tasso, Book 10, xii

1. When ſhall we three meet againe? / In Thunder, Lightning, or in Raine? / 2. When the Hurly-burley's done, / When the Battaile's loſt, and wonne.

c. 1606 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Macbeth”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, [Act I, scene i], page 131

Thus Ahab seduced by his false prophets descendeth into the battaile, and is slaine (contemning the words of Michaiah) in[m] whose mouthes the diuell was a lying spirit, who sent of the Lord, perswaded him and prevailed, 1.

1616, Alexander Roberts, A Treatise of Witchcraft