noun

skirmish

SKUR-mihsh

noun

A short fight between small groups, usually part of a bigger conflict.

"A brief skirmish broke out between the two patrols near the border."

"Historians recorded several skirmishes before the main battle began."

A minor dispute or disagreement.

"The meeting turned into a skirmish over the budget."

verb

To fight in a small, brief clash.

"The two armies skirmished for days before the decisive battle."

How to Use Skirmish

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA small fight or argument, smaller than a full battle.

Common pairings

brief skirmish border skirmish skirmish over something

skirmished past tense, skirmishes plural, skirmishes singular

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A brief _____ broke out between the two patrols near the border.

From Old French escarmouche, tracing back to Italian scaramuccia — the same root that gave English the character name "Scaramouche".