scrum

noun

ˈskrəm 

1

a

or scrummage

ˈskrə-mij 

: a rugby play in which the forwards of each side come together in a tight formation and struggle to gain possession of the ball using their feet when it is tossed in among them

also : the arrangement of players in a scrum

b

: a usually brief and disorderly struggle or fight : scrape, scuffle

2

a

British : madhouse sense 2

b

: a usually tightly packed or disorderly crowd : throng

scrummage intransitive verb

Synonyms

• army
• bike [chiefly Scottish]
• cram
• crowd
• crush
• drove
• flock
• herd
• horde
• host
• legion
• mass
• mob
• multitude
• press
• rout
• swarm
• throng

Examples of scrum in a Sentence

I had to fight my way through the scrum of holiday shoppers at the mall.

when the server spilled a drink on a customer, they got into a bit of a scrum before being separated

Recent Examples on the Web

Period ambulances, police cars and dozens of extras were standing by to move into position in front of the fictional building’s facade, creating a scrum of onlookers and first responders. —Patrick Brzeski, The Hollywood Reporter, 30 Mar. 2024

Health and beauty companies, some for the first time, are joining the scrum of beverage, technology and auto brands that have long been a staple of the blockbuster sports event. —Jordan Valinsky, CNN, 7 Feb. 2024

Just this week, Conley did a post-practice scrum interview with local media for a few minutes. —Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 3 Feb. 2024

Dave Roberts will hold a scrum near the backfields, answering questions and updating reporters on that day’s information. —Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 8 Feb. 2024

The shooting has led to a complicated scrum of lawsuits and countersuits involving Baldwin, Gutierrez Reed, Hutchins’ relatives, crew members, the production company, insurance companies, and the Bonanza Creek Ranch, where the incident took place. —Gene Maddaus, Variety, 11 Mar. 2024

One man throws a wad of cash down into the ring, creating a scrum of men scrambling in the cloud of bills. —Toby Muse, Rolling Stone, 3 Mar. 2024

In a brief clip from what looked like the video for the song, Charli does a runway-worthy strut past a scrum of shouting paparazzi in an airport. —Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 28 Feb. 2024

Jalen Brunson playfully tried to escape a media scrum in front of his locker by announcing that Josh Hart was ready to talk to reporters. —Dan Gelston, USA TODAY, 6 Jan. 2024

Word History

Etymology

short for scrummage, alteration of scrimmage

First Known Use

1848, in the meaning defined at sense 1a