scrum

[skruhm]

noun

1. a rugby play in which three members of each team line up opposite one another with a group of two and a group of three players behind them: the ball is then rolled between the opposing front lines and players attempt to kick the ball backward to a teammate.

2. a project management method often used in agile development, centering around a small team with a schedule of short, fixed-length work cycles, each of which is used to complete some chunk of a complex or ongoing project.

3. a place or situation of confusion and racket; hubbub.

4. a chaotic, rushed attempt by multiple reporters to question one or more politicians, celebrities, etc..

   The minister always left meetings through a back door to avoid the daily scrum.

verb (used without object)

scrummed, scrumming 

1. to engage in a scrum.

scrum

/ skrʌm /

noun

1. rugby the act or method of restarting play after an infringement when the two opposing packs of forwards group together with heads down and arms interlocked and push to gain ground while the scrum half throws the ball in and the hookers attempt to scoop it out to their own team. A scrum is usually called by the referee ( set scrum ) but may be formed spontaneously ( loose scrum )

2. informal,  a disorderly struggle

verb

1. rugby to form a scrum

Word History and Origins

Origin of scrum¹

First recorded in 1885–90; short for scrummage

Word History and Origins

Origin of scrum¹

C19: shortened from _scrummage

Example Sentences

While Farrell was buoyed by his team's second-half efforts, he bemoaned "stupid errors" and admitted Ireland lost their composure in the face of a dominant South African scrum.

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"Having that many scrums wasn't pleasing on the neck, but they are a quality side with a quality pack," he said.

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It took Bielle-Biarrey and his iconic red scrum hat's Test try tally to 20 in 22 appearances since his international bow in 2023.

Read more on Barron's

While Ireland did well not to concede from there, Prendergast's second penalty was the only score they managed as replacement prop McCarthy's scrum infringement brought the home side's card count to five.

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Crawford survived the transition to talking pictures—one of the few silent stars to do so—and proved herself as a star and an actress amid the all-star scrum of 1932’s “Grand Hotel.”

Read more on The Wall Street Journal