scrimmage
- a rough or vigorous struggle.
- Football.
- the action that takes place between the teams from the moment the ball is snapped until it is declared dead.Compare line of scrimmage.
- a practice session or informal game, as that played between two units of the same team.
- to engage in a scrimmage.
Origin of scrimmage
Examples from the Web for scrimmage
Contemporary Examples of scrimmage
One of them, Troy Jones, a 19-year-old aspiring photojournalist, remembered Brown from the scrimmage line.
The real line of scrimmage in American politics is the economy.
After the scrimmage, Bustin said Lloyd was “in good spirits and everything seemed to be fine … A lot of the guys go out,” he said.
“He was mentoring a younger guy in the scrimmage about technique you should use,” he said.
Historical Examples of scrimmage
Outnumbered twenty to one, they began to go down in the scrimmage.
The HarborErnest Poole
How will it go with young O'Shea about this scrimmage, will it be serious?'
Lord KilgobbinCharles Lever
He was ashamed 172 because he had shown the white feather in the scrimmage.
The Pirate of PanamaWilliam MacLeod Raine
They had been in a scrimmage with the Chippewas and had their wounded with them and many gory scalps, too.
Old Rail Fence CornersVarious
I must have dropped it, sir, in the scrimmage—it was awful 'ot, sir!
On the Heels of De WetThe Intelligence Officer
scrimmage
- a rough or disorderly struggle
- American football the clash of opposing linemen at every down
- (intr) to engage in a scrimmage
- (tr) to put (the ball) into a scrimmage
Word Origin for scrimmage
Word Origin and History for scrimmage
sometimes also scrummage, late 15c., alteration of skirmish (n.). Meaning in rugby and U.S. football dates from 1857, originally "a confused struggle between players."
1825, "quarrel, argue," from scrimmage (n.). Team sports sense is from 1881. Related: Scrimmaged; scrimmaging.