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   skirmish

   /ˈskəːmɪʃ/

   noun

   • 1. 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" Similar fightbattleclashconflictencounterconfrontationengagementfraycontestcombattusslescrimmagefracasaffraymeleearchaic:rencounter
   • ▪ a short argument: "there was a skirmish over the budget" Similar argumentquarrelsquabblecontretempsdisagreementdifference of opiniondissensionfalling-outdisputedisputationcontentionclashaltercationexchangewar of wordsdonnybrookinformal:tiffset-torun-inspatdust-uprowbarneyding-dongbust-upbit of argy-bargyruckaftersrammyarchaic:broilmiffthreapcollieshangie

   verb

   • 1. engage in a skirmish: "the two powers have fought three major wars and have skirmished continually"

   Word Origin Middle English (as a verb): from Old French eskirmiss-, lengthened stem of eskirmir, from a Germanic verb meaning ‘defend’.

   Derivatives

   • 1. skirmisher noun

   Scrabble Points: 17

   • S

     1

   • K

     5

   • I

     1

   • R

     1

   • M

     3

   • I

     1

   • S

     1

   • H

     4

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