skirmish

(skûr'mĭsh)
n.

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

intr.v., -mished, -mish·ing, -mish·es.
To engage in a minor battle or dispute.

[Middle English skirmisshe, alteration (influenced by Middle English skirmisshen, to brandish a weapon) of skarmush, from Old French eskarmouch, from Old Italian scaramuccia, of Germanic origin.]

skirmisher skir'mish·er n.

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noun

A brief, hostile exposure to or contact with something such as danger or opposition: brush², clash, encounter, run-in. See touch/not touch.

n. an episode of irregular or unpremeditated fighting, especially between small or outlying parts of armies or fleets: the unit was caught in several skirmishes and the commanding officer was killed.

v. (skirmishing)

engage in a skirmish.

skirmisher n.

See the Introduction, Abbreviations and Pronunciation for further details.

IN BRIEF: A brief fight or battle. Also: To take part in a minor fight.

There was a skirmish on the football field after the call by the referee.

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For a list of words related to skirmish, see:

• Types and Techniques of Warfare - skirmish: brief, inconclusive battle
• Fights - skirmish: light, brief conflict

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See words rhyming with "skirmisher."

  See crossword solutions for the clue Skirmish.

Dansk (Danish)
n. - skærmydsel
v. intr. - kæmpe i spredt orden

Nederlands (Dutch)
schermutselen, bakkeleien, redetwisten, oefenwedstrijd spelen, schermutseling, twist, oefenwedstrijd

Français (French)
n. - (gén) accrochage, (Mil) escarmouche, prise de bec
v. intr. - avoir une prise de bec, avoir un accrochage, (Mil) s'engager dans une escarmouche

Deutsch (German)
n. - Gefecht, Auseinandersetzung
v. - kämpfen, streiten

Ελληνική (Greek)
n. - (στρατ.) αψιμαχία, (μτφ.) λογομαχία
v. - (στρατ.) εμπλέκομαι σε αψιμαχία, ακροβολίζομαι

Italiano (Italian)
scaramucciare, disputare, scaramuccia

Português (Portuguese)
n. - discussão (f)
v. - tomar parte em discussão

Русский (Russian)
стычка, перестрелка, сражаться (мелкими отрядами), завязать перестрелку, рыскать в поисках чего-л.

Español (Spanish)
n. - escaramuza, refriega
v. intr. - escaramucear, pelear, discutir, argumentar

Svenska (Swedish)
n. - skärmytsling, mindre sammandrabbning
v. - drabba samman

中文（简体）(Chinese (Simplified))
小规模战斗, 小冲突, 争执, 争论, 从事小争论, 侦察

中文（繁體）(Chinese (Traditional))
n. - 小規模戰鬥, 小衝突, 爭執, 爭論
v. intr. - 從事小爭論, 偵察

한국어 (Korean)
n. - 작은 접전, 작은 충돌
v. intr. - 사방을 찾아 헤매다, 승강이를 하다

日本語 (Japanese)
n. - 小戦闘, 衝突, 小競り合い
v. - 小ぜり合いをする, 捜しまわる, 小競り合いをする

العربيه (Arabic)
‏(الاسم) مصادمه, مشادة (فعل) يناوش, ينهمك في مشادة‏

עברית (Hebrew)
n. - ‮התנגשות, קרב צדדי, תגרה, התכתשות, צחצוח-מלים‬
v. intr. - ‮התנגש, התכתש‬

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