A firefight is
functionally identical to a
gunfight, in that it is two or more
individuals, carrying
firearms, engaging each other in
ranged combat.
The term is very
versatile, and can be used to refer to
battles both
small, as in two men
duelling each other, to
large, as in a full
company of
infantrymen engaging another full company.
It is important to note, however, that a firefight is a
discreet event: a firefight has a
start point and an
end point. Many firefights can be contained within a full military
engagement as individual units move in and out of
contact with one another. A firefight also has
duration: at least two participants must fire at each other over an extended
period. A single shot does not count as a firefight: two shots is pushing it, but anything more can count.