Squirmish
adj, noun, verb ·Rare ·Advanced level
Definitions
- 1 A skirmish. nonce-word, proscribed
"“Ah!” resumed Stebby, “you have not known Put as long as I have. He had rather see a fight or a squirmish any time than not.” “Skirmish,” said Freeman. “Squirmish, I said,” retorted Stebby, “and yet, Put is really — well, Put is really at heart you know” “A coward,” said Put."
- 1 To squirmingly skirmish.
- 1 showing signs of restlessness resulting from feelings of discomfort or distress.
"I think it embarrassed us a little when the Russians shot the fellow down and we denied that he was there, and the President later had to identify that as a "cover story". I remember the words, even. It made me feel a little squirmish."
Example
More examples"I think it embarrassed us a little when the Russians shot the fellow down and we denied that he was there, and the President later had to identify that as a "cover story". I remember the words, even. It made me feel a little squirmish."
Etymology
From squirm + -ish.
Blend of squirm + skirmish.
More for "squirmish"
Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.