Definitions for skirmish
ˈskɜr mɪʃskir·mish

Princeton's WordNetRate this definition:1.0 / 1 vote

1. brush, clash, encounter, skirmishverb

   a minor short-term fight

2. skirmishverb

   engage in a skirmish

WiktionaryRate this definition:2.0 / 1 vote

1. skirmishnoun

   A brief battle between small groups, usually part of a longer or larger battle or war.

2. skirmishnoun

   By extension, any minor dispute.

3. skirmishnoun

   A type of outdoor military style game using paintball or similar weapons.

4. skirmishverb

   To engage in a minor battle or dispute

Samuel Johnson's DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Skirmishnoun

   Etymology: from ys and carm, Welsh, the shout of war: whence ysgarm, and ysgarmes, old British words. Maes a naw 'sgarmes a wnan, says an ancient writer. Escarmouche, French.

   1. A slight fight: less than a set battle.

   One battle, yes, a skirmish more there was
   With adverse fortune fought by Cartismand;
   Her subjects most revolt. Ambrose Philips, Briton.

   2. A contest; a contention.

   There is a kind of merry war betwixt signior Benedick and her: they never meet but there’s a skirmish of wit. William Shakespeare.

   These skirmishes expire not with the first propugners of the opinions: they perhaps began as single duellers; but then they soon have their partisans and abettors, who not only enhance, but intail the feud to posterity. Decay of Piety.

2. To Skirmishverb

   To fight loosely; to fight in parties before or after the shock of the main battle.

   Etymology: escarmoucher, French; from the noun.

   Ready to charge, and to retire at will;
   Though broken, scatter’d, fled, they skirmish still. Edward Fairfax.

   A gentleman volunteer, skirmishing with the enemy before Worcester, was run through his arm in the middle of the biceps with a sword, and shot with a musket-bullet in the same shoulder. Richard Wiseman, Surgery.

   I’ll pass by the little skirmishings on either side. Francis Atterbury.

WikipediaRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Skirmish

   Skirmishers are light infantry or light cavalry soldiers deployed as a vanguard, flank guard or rearguard to screen a tactical position or a larger body of friendly troops from enemy advances. They are usually deployed in a skirmish line, an irregular open formation that is much more spread out in depth and in breadth than a traditional line formation. Their purpose is to harass the enemy by engaging them in only light or sporadic combat to delay their movement, disrupt their attack, or weaken their morale. Such tactics are collectively called skirmishing. A battle with only light, relatively indecisive combat is often called a skirmish even if heavier troops are sometimes involved. Skirmishers can be either regular army units that are temporarily detached to perform skirmishing or specialty units that are specifically armed and trained for such low-level irregular warfare tactics. Light infantry, light cavalry, and irregular units often specialize in skirmishing. Skirmishers' open formations and smaller numbers can give them superior mobility over the regular forces, allowing them to engage only on favorable terms, taking advantage of better position or terrain, and quickly withdrawing from any threat of superior enemy forces. Though often critical in protecting the main army from sudden enemy advances, skirmishers are poor at taking or defending ground from heavy infantry or heavy cavalry. In modern times, following the obsolescence of such heavy troops, all infantry has become indistinguishable from skirmishers, and the term has effectively lost its original military meaning as a distinct class of soldier, although skirmishing as a combat role is commonplace.

ChatGPTRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. skirmish

   A skirmish refers to a minor, short-term, unplanned fight or dispute during a war or disagreement, typically involving small groups or factions. It can also be used metaphorically to describe an argument or confrontation between individuals or groups in non-military contexts.

Webster DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Skirmishverb

   to fight slightly or in small parties; to engage in a skirmish or skirmishes; to act as skirmishers

2. Skirmishverb

   a slight fight in war; a light or desultory combat between detachments from armies, or between detached and small bodies of troops

3. Skirmishverb

   a slight contest

4. Etymology: [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. a sunshade. Cf. Scaramouch, Scrimmage.]

Chambers 20th Century DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Skirmish

   skėr′mish, n. an irregular fight between two small parties: a contest.—v.i. to fight slightly or irregularly.—ns. Skir′misher, a soldier belonging to troops dispersed to cover front or flank, and prevent surprises; Skir′mishing. [O. Fr. escarmouche—Old High Ger. skerman, scirman, to fight.]

Dictionary of Nautical TermsRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. skirmish

   An engagement of a light and irregular character, generally for the purpose of gaining information or time, or of clearing the way for more serious operations.

Military Dictionary and GazetteerRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. skirmish

   A slight fight in war; a light combat between detachments from armies which are yet at a considerable distance from each other, or between detached and small parties.

2. skirmish

   To fight slightly or in small parties; to engage in a skirmish; to act as skirmishers.

Matched Categories

1. • Fight

Anagrams for skirmish »

1. smirkish

How to pronounce skirmish?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

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   Mark

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   Daniel

   British

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   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

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   Neerja

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   Zira

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   Oliver

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   Wendy

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How to say skirmish in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of skirmish in Chaldean Numerology is: 3

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of skirmish in Pythagorean Numerology is: 7

Examples of skirmish in a Sentence

1. Anthony Chan:

   In general terms, we have a trade skirmish not a trade war, longer term, we believe these trade issues will be resolved but on a day-to-day basis they lead to some consternation from investors.

2. Mitch McConnell:

   If I were one of our Sunni Arab allies watching this, I'd be encouraged that America was back in the business of being more assertive, less passive. That does not mean you are going to send in the troops every time there is a skirmish somewhere, but I thought it was very reassuring.

3. Lorenzo Anderson:

   Secondly, Donita still has state claims in addition to this federal claim. we will continue to pursue justice and accountability. Today’s decision was a small skirmish in a bigger battle.

4. Korean War veteran Quehl:

   We were often under attack by (fighter jets) trying to shoot us down and we saw a lot of our friends get killed, a lot of people thought Korea was just a mild skirmish, but it really was a war that killed a lot of people.

5. Jono Miller:

   We’re viewing this as the opening skirmish in a broader campaign that Tallahassee is undertaking to completely redefine the state parks.

Popularity rank by frequency of use

References

1. ^ Princeton's WordNet
   http://wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=skirmish
2. ^ Wiktionary
   https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Skirmish
3. ^ Samuel Johnson's Dictionary
   https://johnsonsdictionaryonline.com/views/search.php?term=skirmish
4. ^ Wikipedia
   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skirmish
5. ^ ChatGPT
   https://chat.openai.com
6. ^ Webster Dictionary
   https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/skirmish
7. ^ Chambers 20th Century Dictionary
   https://www.gutenberg.org/files/37683/37683-h/37683-h.htm#:~:text=skirmish
8. ^ Dictionary of Nautical Terms
   https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/26000/pg26000-images.html#:~:text=skirmish
9. ^ Military Dictionary and Gazetteer
   https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/59563/pg59563-images.html