Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Mel'ee \M[^e]`l['e]e"\, n.
   A cavalry exercise in which two groups of riders try to cut
   paper plumes off the helmets of their opponents, the contest
   continuing until no member of one group retains his plume; --
   sometimes called {Balaklava m[^e]l['e]e}.