pitched battle

From Wiktionary

Noun[change]

Singular
pitched battle

Plural
pitched battles

  1. (military) A hostile battle involving prolonged fighting between opposing forces in close combat.
    • 1594, William Shakespeare, Taming of the Shrew, act 1, sc. 2:
      Have I not in a pitched battle heard
      Loud 'larums, neighing steeds, and trumpets' clang?