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

Security forces have surrounded the area, though skirmishes have not yet ceased.

Read more on Barron's

The skirmish was just the latest between YouTube and a major programming company.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

But we see every time there’s an infraction, skirmishes or short-term war there is a spike in antisemitism around the world.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

One would think that having to accommodate orphaned beavers in and around one’s home would be plenty to deal with, but Mr. Aberth now had to lawyer up for his skirmish with the state.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The skirmish is just the latest between YouTube and programming companies.

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