skirmish

[skur-mish]

noun

1. Military.,  a fight between small bodies of troops, especially advanced or outlying detachments of opposing armies.

   Synonyms: brush, combat

2. any brisk conflict or encounter.

   She had a skirmish with her landlord about the rent.

verb (used without object)

1. to engage in a skirmish.

skirmish

/ ˈskɜːmɪʃ /

noun

1. a minor short-lived military engagement

2. any brisk clash or encounter, usually of a minor nature

verb

1. to engage in a skirmish

Other Word Forms

• skirmisher noun
• outskirmish verb (used with object)

Word History and Origins

Origin of skirmish¹

1300–50; (noun) Middle English skirmysshe < Old French eskirmiss-, long stem of eskirmir < Germanic (compare Old High German skirman ); replacing Middle English scarmouche < Old French escaramoucher ( Scaramouch ); (v.) late Middle English scarmuchen, scarmusshen to skirmish, Middle English skirmisshen to brandish a weapon < Old French escar ( a ) mucher to skirmish; vowels influenced by Old French eskirmiss-

Word History and Origins

Origin of skirmish¹

C14: from Old French eskirmir, of Germanic origin; related to Old High German skirmen to defend

Synonym Study

See battle ¹.

Example Sentences

There is excitement in her eyes, her blonde braids swing back and forth as she recollects villa drama, late-night group chats and fierce online skirmishes, like a war veteran sharing combat stories.

From BBC

Newsom has since submitted a Freedom of Information Act request seeking records from the administration about why agents arrived at the museum as he was announcing his latest skirmish with the president.

From Los Angeles Times

The skirmish led to one Filipino soldier losing his thumb, Manila said.

From BBC

The defendant did not mention this skirmish to Ms Staniforth when, 15 minutes later, he went to her office to ask to be excused from his science lesson in order to avoid two other students.

From BBC

Such sensitivities have made the loudspeakers controversial in South Korea, too, with residents of the border villages complaining about the noise, as well as the dangers of military skirmishes breaking out near their homes.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• altercation 
• argument 
• battle 
• bout 
• brawl 
• clash 
• combat 
• conflict 
• confrontation 
• disagreement 
• dispute 
• encounter 
• feud 
• fisticuffs 
• fracas 
• melee 
• quarrel 
• run-in 
• scuffle 
• strife