skir|mish

skir|mish
skir|mish «SKUR mihsh», noun, verb.
–n.
1. a brief fight between small groups: »

The scouts of our army had a skirmish with a small group of the enemy. The boys had a skirmish over who would wear the cowboy hat.

2. any slight conflict, argument, or contest: »

Many and hot were the skirmishes on this topic (Charles Lamb).

–v.i.
to take part in a skirmish: »

Some of his ships should skirmish with the enemy: but the great body of his fleet should not be risked (Macaulay).

[< Old French eskirmiss-, stem of eskirmir (originally) ward off < Germanic (compare Old High German scirman fight under cover). Compare etym. under scrimmage (Cf.scrimmage), Scaramouch. (Cf.Scaramouch)]

Useful english dictionary. 2012.

Игры ⚽ Поможем решить контрольную работу

Look at other dictionaries:

  • skir|mish|er — «SKUR mih shuhr», noun. 1. a person who skirmishes: »Round its front played a crowd of skirmishers…flying, reforming, shrieking insults (Rudyard Kipling). 2. one of the soldiers sent out in advance of an army, as to clear the way for the main… …   Useful english dictionary

  • skir — skir·mish·er; skir·reh; skir·ret; skir·mish; …   English syllables

  • mish — dim·mish; du·wa·mish; grim·mish; mish·mash; mish·mi; mish·nah; mish·pa·chah; ram·mish; ram·mish·ness; rhe·mish; sa·heh·wa·mish; skir·mish·er; sko·ko·mish; sky·ko·mish; slim·mish; sno·ho·mish; squaw·mish; squea·mish; squea·mish·ly;… …   English syllables

  • skirmish — skir·mish …   English syllables

  • skirmisher — skir·mish·er …   English syllables

  • skirmish — skir|mish1 [ skɜrmıʃ ] noun count 1. ) a fight, especially one that is away from the main fighting in a war: An officer was killed in a skirmish with guerillas. 2. ) an argument or disagreement, especially a political one: a major skirmish in the …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • skirmish — skir•mish [[t]ˈskɜr mɪʃ[/t]] n. 1) mil a fight between small bodies of troops 2) any brisk conflict or encounter 3) to engage in a skirmish • Etymology: 1300–50 < OF eskirmiss , s. of eskirmir < Frankish; cf. OHG skirman to defend… …   From formal English to slang

  • skirmish — skir|mish [ˈskə:mıʃ US ˈskə:r ] n [Date: 1300 1400; : Old French; Origin: escaramouche, from Old Italian scaramuccia] 1.) a fight between small groups of soldiers, ships etc, especially one that happens away from the main part of a battle used in …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • skirmishing — skir|mish|ing [ skɜrmıʃıŋ ] noun uncount 1. ) fighting that is not part of the main fighting in a war: Skirmishing has continued, despite the truce. 2. ) arguments, especially political or legal ones: There were fears that the diplomatic… …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • Skirmish — Skir mish, n.[OE. scarmishe, scrymishe. See {Skirmish}, v. i.] 1. A slight fight in war; a light or desultory combat between detachments from armies, or between detached and small bodies of troops. [1913 Webster] 2. A slight contest. [1913… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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