Category:Skirmish

Skir"mish, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Skirmished; p. pr. & vb. n. Skirmishing.] Etym: [oe. skirmishen, scarmishen, of. escremir, Eskermir, to fence, fight, f. escrimer, of german origin; cf. Ohg. Scirmen to protect, defend, g. schirmen, ohg. scirm, scerm, Protection, shield, g. schirm; perhaps akin to gr. Scaramouch, Scrimmage.]

Defn: to fight slightly or in small parties; to engage in a skirmish Or skirmishes; to act as skirmishers.

Skirmish Skir"mish, n.Etym: [oe. scarmishe, scrymishe. See skirmish, v. i.]

1. A slight fight in war; a light or desultory combat between Detachments from armies, or between detached and small bodies of Troops.

2. A slight contest. They never meet but there's a skirmish of wit. Shak.