battle
1.
2. A match between two combatants: trial by battle.
3. a. A protracted controversy or struggle: won the battle of the budget. b. An intense competition: a battle of wits.
verb
battled
To engage in or as if in battle.
To fight against: battled the enemy; battled cancer.
[Middle English batel, from Old French bataille, from Vulgar Latin *battālia, from Late Latin battuālia, fighting and fencing exercises, from Latin battuere, to beat.]
bat