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

The protesters largely retreated, but a few threw objects at the police line, and skirmishes ensued.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The city has remained mostly calm in recent months, with protesters occasionally engaging in brief skirmishes with authorities stationed outside a U.S.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

It was obvious to all right-thinking people that “we” had won the culture war, despite the occasional flare-up of distressing rear-guard skirmishes.

Read more on Salon

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.

Read more on 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.

Read more on 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