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Webster's Dictionary (1865)

2 entries under this word

Skirmish

Skĭr'mish, n.

noun

(18), n. [O. Eng. scarmishe, scarmoge, scrymishe, Fr. escarmouche, O. Fr. escarmie, eskermie, escremie, Pr. escarmussa, Sp. escaramuza, It. scaramuccia, shermaggio, fr. It. schermire, to fence, fight; O. Fr. escremir, eskermir, to fence, fight, fr. O. H. Ger. skerman, skirman, to defend; N. H. Ger. schärmen, Ger. scharmützel, D. schermutseling, Sw. skärmytsel, Dan. skiærmydsel.]

  1. A slight fight in war; a light combat between detachments from armies which are yet at a considerable distance from each other, or between detached and small parties.
  2. A contest; a contention.

They never meet but there's a skirmish of wit. Shak.

Skĭr'mish, v. i.

verbintransitive

v. i. [imp. & p. p. SKIRMISHED (skĭr'misht); p. pr. & vb. n. SKIRMISHING.] [Fr. escarmoucher, Sp. escaramuzar, It. scaramucciare, Ger. scharmützeln.] To fight slightly or in small parties; to engage in a skirmish; to act as skirmishers.