noun, verb ·Rare ·Advanced level

Definitions

Noun

1. 1
   An ordered formation of forwards, typically bending down, binding to one another with their arms, and pushing opponents shoulder to shoulder, in which each side aims to gain control of the ball; a scrum.
2. 2
   (rugby) the method of beginning play in which the forwards of each team crouch side by side with locked arms; play starts when the ball is thrown in between them and the two sides compete for possession wordnet
3. 3
   A scrimmage. rare
4. 4
   Dated form of scrimmage (“a rough fight”). alt-of, dated

   "How would you like a scrummage, Andy, with them Scotchmen that stole your mother's chickens this morning?"

Verb

1. 1
   To engage in an ordered formation of forwards in which each side aims to gain control of the ball, as described above.

Synonyms

All synonyms

scrumscrum

Antonyms

All antonyms

ruck

Example

More examples

"How would you like a scrummage, Andy, with them Scotchmen that stole your mother's chickens this morning?"

Etymology

Alteration of scrimmage, scrimish, scrimmish, variants of skirmish.

Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.