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Skirmish

//ˈskɜːmɪʃ// noun, verb

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    A brief battle between small groups, usually part of a longer or larger battle or war.

    "On 2 March, Chinese border guards with the help of regular PLA forces skillfully ambushed Strelnikov's unit on the ice near Chen Pao, killing him and 30 Soviets in the subsequent skirmish."

  2. 2
    a minor short-term fight wordnet
  3. 3
    Any minor dispute. broadly, figuratively

    "Three people were arrested after a skirmish in a bar."

  4. 4
    A type of outdoor military style game using paintball or similar weapons.
Verb
  1. 1
    To engage in a minor battle or dispute. intransitive

    "The deer and the pig and the nilghai were milling round and round in a circle of eight or ten miles radius, while the Eaters of Flesh skirmished round its edge."

  2. 2
    engage in a skirmish wordnet

Etymology

Etymology 1

From Middle English skirmish (as a verb), from Old French escarmouche (“skirmish”), from Italian scaramuccia, earlier schermugio. Doublet of escarmouche, Scaramouche, and Scaramucci.

Etymology 2

From Middle English skirmish (as a verb), from Old French escarmouche (“skirmish”), from Italian scaramuccia, earlier schermugio. Doublet of escarmouche, Scaramouche, and Scaramucci.

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