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skirmish

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The definition of a skirmish is a short argument or brief period of fighting.

(noun)

When two people have a brief argument, this is an example of a skirmish.

Skirmish is to get involved in a short little argument or fight.

(verb)

When you get involved in a little fight, this is an example of a time when you skirmish.

See skirmish in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun

a brief fight or encounter between small groups, usually an incident of a battle
any slight, unimportant conflict; brush

Origin: ME scarmoch < MFr escharmuche < It scaramuccia < schermire, to fight < Gmc, as in OHG *skirmjan, to protect < skirm, a guard: see screen

intransitive verb

to take part in a skirmish

Origin: ME scarmishen

Related Forms:

skirmisher noun

See skirmish in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun

A minor battle in war, as one between small forces or between large forces avoiding direct conflict.
A minor or preliminary conflict or dispute: a skirmish over the rules before the debate began.

intransitive verb skir·mished, skir·mish·ing, skir·mish·es

To engage in a minor battle or dispute.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English skirmisshe

Origin: , alteration (influenced by Middle English skirmisshen, to brandish a weapon)

Origin: of skarmush

Origin: , from Old French eskarmouch

Origin: , from Old Italian scaramuccia

Origin: , of Germanic origin; see sker-¹ in Indo-European roots

Related Forms: