pickeer

verb

pick·​eer pi-ˈkir 

pickeered; pickeering; pickeers

intransitive verb

archaic

: to skirmish in advance of an army

also : scout, reconnoiter

Word History

Etymology

probably modification of French picorer to maraud, perhaps from Middle French pecore sheep, from Old Italian pecora — more at pecorino

First Known Use

1644, in the meaning defined above