noun
-
a minor short-lived military engagement
-
any brisk clash or encounter, usually of a minor nature
verb
Related Words
See battle 1.
Other Word Forms
- outskirmish verb (used with object)
- skirmisher noun
Etymology
Origin of skirmish
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-
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
That adjective would not apply to a public skirmish between the president of the university and the consultant that conducted the study commissioned by the university.
From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 24, 2026
This being “Primal,” they’re set upon by a group of diminutive flesh-eaters with jagged teeth, igniting a life-or-death skirmish that, miraculously, steals the viewer’s breath.
From Salon • Feb. 1, 2026
Oklahoma City coach Mark Daigneault said the post-game skirmish was the result of lax officiating.
From Barron's • Jan. 28, 2026
During yet another skirmish outside, a woman came in, sobbing.
From Slate • Jan. 25, 2026
There was the occasional border skirmish, but crossings from one side to the other were rare.
From "Ugly" by Robert Hoge
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
