skirmish

¹skir·mish

noun \ˈskər-mish\

Definition of SKIRMISH

1

: a minor fight in war usually incidental to larger movements

2

a : a brisk preliminary verbal conflict b : a minor dispute or contest between opposing parties <the debate touched off a skirmish>

Examples of SKIRMISH

1. Skirmishes broke out between rebel groups.
2. Violent skirmishes with the enemy continue despite talks of peace.

Origin of SKIRMISH

Middle English skyrmissh, alteration (influenced by Anglo-French eskermir to fence (with swords), protect, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German scirmen to protect, scirm shield) of skarmuch, from Anglo-French escarmuche, from Old Italian scaramuccia — more at screen

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to SKIRMISH

Synonyms: brush, hassle, run-in, scrape, encounter

Related Words: argument, fight, quarrel, row, spat, squabble, tiff; battle, brawl, fray, wrangle

Near Antonyms: truce

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Other Military Terms

bivouac, logistics, petard, salient, sally, supernumerary, tactical