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The quarrel and debate about the nature and function of poetic and theatrical writing, conducted (1599–1601) over the course of a number of plays principally by Jonson, Marston, and Dekker, and probably also Shakespeare.
Early 17th century; earliest use found in Thomas Dekker (c1572–1632), playwright and pamphleteer. From poet + -o- + classical Latin -machia or its etymon ancient Greek -μαχία.