Definition of pitched battle

The term "pitched battle" derives from the Old French word "perche," which means a stake or boundary marker used to demarcate land. During medieval times, when armies engaged in combat, they would often set up boundary lines using these stakes, creating a defined space for the battle. The term "pitched" refers to this act of setting up markers or stakes before engagement. Thus, a "pitched battle" would be a battle where the opposing armies have deliberately set up boundaries or limits to the conflict, making it a more organized and controlled engagement as opposed to a skirmish or ambush. The first recorded use of the term "pitched battle" is found in William Shakespeare's play, Henry V, in the late 16th century.