Stole back to contain a melee (6)
I believe the answer is:
fracas
'melee' is the definition.
(both can mean a disturbance or fight)
'stole back to contain a' is the wordplay.
'stole' becomes 'scarf' (stole can mean a scarf or shawl).
'back' says the letters should be written in reverse.
'to contain' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'scarf' reversed gives 'fracs'.
'fracs' placed around 'a' is 'FRACAS'.
(Other definitions for fracas that I've seen before include "Melee" , "Fight" , "Brawl, disturbance" , "Noisy altercation" , "Free-for-all" .)