skirmishn.

Brit.

/ˈskəːmɪʃ/, U.S.

/ˈskərmɪʃ/

Forms: α. Middle English skarmuch, Middle English, 1500s skarmoch, Middle English skarmoche, skarmasche, 1500s skarmusch(e, skarmouch; Middle English scharmoch, scharmus; Middle English scarmuche, scarmusche, scarmusshe, 1500s scarmuss, scarmouch(e, scarmoge; 1500s skaramouche, scaramoche, scaramoshe. β. Middle English skarmich, Middle English skarmyssh, 1500s skarmische; Middle English scarmich, scarmych(e, Middle English scarmysshe. γ. Middle English–1500s skyrmysshe, Middle English–1500s skyrmysh, 1500s skyrmyshe, skyrmish; Middle English–1500s skirmysshe (Middle English scir-, 1500s schyr-), 1500s skirmysche, skirmishe, 1500s– skirmish; Middle English skermyshe, 1500s skermysche, 1600s skermish, skermishe. δ. 1500s skyrmosh, skyr-, skirmush. ε. Middle English–1500s skermyche; 1500s scir-, 1500s–1600s skirmige, 1700s–1800s dialect skirmidge; 1500s scir-, 1500s–1600s skirmage. ζ. 1500s Scottish carmuiche, carmusche.

Etymology: The earlier forms are < Old French escar(a)moche, -muche, -musche, etc., < Italian scaramuccia (compare Spanish escaramuza , Portuguese -muça ), of doubtful origin. The later forms scar- , sker- , skirmish (compare scrimmish n.) have been influenced by those forms of the verb which are derived < Old French eskirmiss- ; with the obsolete variants of these in -iche , -ige , -age , compare scrimmage n. and the forms of rubbish n., adj., and int.

1. An irregular engagement between two small bodies of troops, esp. detached or outlying portions of opposing armies; a petty fight or encounter. Also occasionally without article, as a mode of fighting.

ΘΚΠ

society > armed hostility > armed encounter > [noun] > skirmish

bicker1297

skirmishc1374

pointc1440

scourage1470

escarmouche1475

scrimmage1488

scrimmish1523

eskirmish1581

bickerment1586

velitation1616

pickeer1659

α.

c1374 G. Chaucer Troilus & Criseyde (Campsall MS.) ii. 934 Now late..we oure tales holde Of Troylus þat is to palays ryden Fro þe skarmuch.

c1400 (?c1380) Cleanness l. 1186 Þenne was þe sege sette þe Cete aboute, Skete skarmoch skelt.

c1475 Harl. Contin. Higden (Rolls) VIII. 533 They..made there many skarmuches.

1481 W. Caxton tr. Siege & Conqueste Jerusalem (1893) cliv. 228 And there was the skarmoche grete & fiers.

1562 J. Shute tr. A. Cambini in Two Comm. Turcks i. f. 33 They..helde them contynually occupied..with scaramoshes, alarmes, and false assaultes.

1590 E. Spenser Faerie Queene ii. vi. sig. R6^v Not this rude kynd of battaill, nor these armes Are meet,..Such cruell game my scarmoges disarmes.

1601 J. Chamberlain Let. 13 Aug. (1939) I. 129 Slaine there with a shot in an obscure scarmouch.

β. c1374 G. Chaucer Troilus & Criseyde ii. 611 Ascry aros at skarmyssh [v.r. scarmich] al with oute.1489 W. Caxton tr. C. de Pisan Bk. Fayttes of Armes i. xxiv. 75 To haue them fyrst at a scarmysshe ayenst the aduersaryes.c1540 (?a1400) Destr. Troy xx. Title Of..Skarmiches Lastyng xxx dayes Betwene the Towne & the tenttes.γ. c1400 Brut ccxxxiv. 324 Pryns Edward,..with sore skyrmisshes & fightyng and grete assautes, fought with hem.c1440 Partonope 911 To profer Skyrmyssh to this Castell.a1513 R. Fabyan New Cronycles Eng. & Fraunce (1516) I. cxviii. f. lv^v By dayly skyrmysshes, & assautes he loste moche of his people.1560 J. Daus tr. J. Sleidane Commentaries f. cclxvij^v The Prince..had offered them the skermysche with the light horsemen.1592 T. Kyd Spanish Trag. i. sig. A4 While they maintaine hot skirmish too and fro, Both battailes ioyne.1688 J. S. Mil. Discipl. 2 Distances for intire Doublings or Skermishes between rank and file is 3 foot.1761 D. Hume Hist. Eng. (1806) IV. lv. 276 In many counties, where the people were divided, mobbish combats and skirmishes ensued.1810 Duke of Wellington Dispatches (1838) VI. 496 Our cavalry had a skirmish with the enemy..in which they had the advantage.1874 J. R. Green Short Hist. Eng. People iii. §5. 141 At this critical moment..the Earl fell in an Irish skirmish.δ. 1514 in H. Ellis Orig. Lett. Eng. Hist. (1827) 2nd Ser. I. 313 Who hathe had manye skyrmoshys withe hyme.1560 P. Whitehorne Certain Waies Orderyng Souldiers (1588) 352 Y^e assaultes..which be called skirmushes be easilie withstood.ε. 1556 in J. G. Nichols Chron. Grey Friars (1852) 45 Thys yere..was a grete skermyche in the north abowte Carlelle.1567 T. Drant tr. Horace Pistles in tr. Horace Arte of Poetrie sig. Bviij The valiant man of warre May..liue at lengthe A parte from scirmage farre.1581 B. Rich Farewell Mil. Profession (1846) 8 The orders of sondrie battailes, and the maner of skirmiges.1623 in W. Foster Eng. Factories India 1622–3 (1908) 240 In the heate of scermadge.1680 C. Ness Compl. Church-hist. 96 Save onely two poor spirts, or small skirmages.?1746 ‘T. Bobbin’ View Lancs. Dial. 28 While th' Skirmidge lastut.a1825 R. Forby Vocab. E. Anglia (1830) Skirmidge, a skirmish.1854 A. E. Baker Gloss. Northants. Words II. 240 ζ. 1535 W. Stewart tr. H. Boethius Bk. Cron. Scotl. (1858) I. 243 With countering and with carmuiches also.1535 W. Stewart tr. H. Boethius Bk. Cron. Scotl. (1858) II. 610 With greit scrymmyng and carmusche euerie da.

†2. A body of skirmishers. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

society > armed hostility > armed forces > the Army > group with special function or duty > [noun] > for skirmishing

skirmish1562

1562 J. Shute in tr. A. Cambini in Two Comm. Turcks Ep. Ded. sig. **.iii^v Minutius forthwith: sent forthe his lighte armed men and attached the scaramoche.

3. transferred.

a. Any contest or encounter.

ΘΚΠ

society > society and the community > dissent > contention or strife > [noun] > an act or instance of

flitec1000

strifea1225

wara1300

pulla1400

lakec1420

contenta1450

stour?c1450

contentiona1500

pingle1543

agony1555

feudc1565

combat1567

skirmish1576

grapple1604

counter-scuffle1628

scuffle1641

agon1649

tug1660

tug of war1677

risse1684

struggle1692

palaver1707

hash1789

warsle1792

scrabble1794

set-to1794

go1823

bucklea1849

wrestle1850

tussle1857

head-to-head1884

scrum1905

battleground1931

shoot-out1953

mud-wrestle1986

society > society and the community > dissent > competition or rivalry > [noun] > a contest or competition

match1531

goala1555

vie1568

skirmish1576

rencounter1594

drop-vie1598

duellism1602

duello1606

bout1609

duel1613

competition1618

matcha1637

tournament1638

contest1648

rencontre1667

pingle?1719

sprawla1813

go1823

bet1843

bucklea1849

comp1929

cook-off1936

title race1948

1576 A. Fleming tr. Cicero in Panoplie Epist. 43 Bitter bruntes and shrewde skyrmishes of aduersitie.

1600 W. Shakespeare Much Ado about Nothing i. i. 60 They neuer meet but there's a skirmish of wit betweene them.

1615 G. Sandys Relation of Journey 58 Incountring still in loues sweete skirmiges.

1690 C. Ness Compl. Hist. & Myst. Old & New Test. I. 300 His violent wrestling was not..a short skirmish of a few day-hours.

1720 D. Defoe Mem. Cavalier 78 I had a new Skirmish with him whose the Money should be.

1823 C. Lamb in London Mag. May 536/2 Many and hot were the skirmishes on this topic.

1853 E. K. Kane U.S. Grinnell Exped. l. 472 In two days more, after a closing skirmish with the ice-pack, we headed homeward.

b. An action or proceeding of a slight character; a slight display of something.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > doing > a proceeding > [noun] > of a slight character

skirmish1651

1651 N. Bacon Contin. Hist. Disc. Govt. 196 By light Skermishes of borrowing smaller sums of Money..and paying them againe, thereby to gain credit for greater sums.

1682 J. Flavell Righteous Man's Refuge in Pract. Treat. Fear (new ed.) 166 The fury of his anger; not some light skirmish of his judgments.

c. A scamper, scramble.

ΘΚΠ

society > travel > aspects of travel > going on foot > [noun] > walking for exercise or recreation > an act of > quick

skirmish1835

run1837

flip1914

power walk1986

1835 T. Arnold in A. P. Stanley Life of Dr. Arnold (1844) I. vii. 428 I never have regarded a regular walk along a road..as exercise... A skirmish over the country is a very different thing.

4. attributive, as skirmish-drill, skirmish-line.

ΚΠ

1868 Upton Inf. Tactics §638 In the skirmish-drill the officers..will constantly aim to impress each man with the idea of his individuality.

1876 N. Amer. Rev. 123 241 The wonderful exploits on the skirmish-line and at the outposts.

This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1911; most recently modified version published online March 2022).

skirmishv.

Brit.

/ˈskəːmɪʃ/, U.S.

/ˈskərmɪʃ/

Forms: α. Middle English scarmuche, scarmushe, Middle English–1500s scarmusshe, 1500s scarmusch, scarmush, scarmuss, scarmosh; skarmuss. β. Middle English–1500s scarmysshe, Middle English scarmyshe, scarmish, 1500s scarmissh, scarmesh; Middle English scarmiss, scarmys; Middle English skarmysshe, 1500s skarmisch, skarmis. γ. Middle English scermish, Middle English–1500s skyrmysshe, 1500s skyrmyshe, skyrmish, skirmishe, skirmisch, 1500s– skirmish (1600s scir-). δ. 1500s skyrmyche, 1800s dialect skyrmage.

Etymology: The α-forms are < Old French escar(a)mucher, -mucier, < Italian scaramucciare (compare Spanish escaramuzar , Portuguese -muçar ), < scaramuccia : see skirmish n. The forms in -ish are influenced by, or directly based on, Old French eskirmiss- , eskermiss- , the lengthened stem of eskermir , etc.: see skirm v.

a. intransitive. To engage in a skirmish or irregular encounter; to fight in small parties. Frequently const. with.

ΘΚΠ

society > armed hostility > armed encounter > contending in battle > contend in battle or give battle [verb (intransitive)] > skirmish

bicker1330

skirmishc1420

scrimmish1523

scrimmage?1536

escarmouche1560

velitand1641

α.

c1470 Contin. Brut cclix. 528 Þe Duke..gat peple to him, which come out & scarmusshed [1482 Caxton scar~muched] with þame of Caleys.

1562 J. Shute tr. A. Cambini in Two Comm. Turcks i. f. 33 They salied forth daiely and scaramoshed with them.

1598 R. Barret Theorike & Pract. Mod. Warres iii. 46 Any part of shot or pikes..set to defend any straight, or to scarmush.

β. c1420 Chron. Vilod. 282 Þus men bygonne & scar~mysshute fast, Þe twey hostes bothe y-fere.c1475 Partenay 2079 On a day he went, to scarmish with thaim.γ. a1513 R. Fabyan New Cronycles Eng. & Fraunce (1516) II. f. cxxxvii He..Issuyd Boldly agayne y^e foresayd persones, and skyrmysshed, with them.1548 Hall's Vnion: Henry IV f. xxi Thei with light horses began to skirmishe with his hoste.1617 F. Moryson Itinerary ii. 141 Sir John Barkeley..skirmishing with them, killed some dead in the place.1683 Britanniæ Speculum 88 Next Morning the Britains..skirmished with the Roman Horse.1796 J. Morse Amer. Universal Geogr. (new ed.) I. 123 Thence to Acomac, where he skirmished with some Indians.1855 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. III. xv. 607 Some of his ships should skirmish with the enemy: but the great body of his fleet should not be risked.δ. 1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 720/1 They dyd skyrmyche togyther syxe dayes or ever the batayles joyned.1841 C. H. Hartshorne Salopia Antiqua Gloss. Skirmage, to skirmish.

b. In figurative uses or contexts.

ΚΠ

1587 G. Turberville Tragicall Tales f. 17 Bebrusht with bryers her broosed body bled, The brambles skirmishte had with every vayne.

1601 J. Weever Mirror of Martyrs sig. A8^v But inward Senses skirmish in the night.

1646 R. Crashaw Musicks Duell in Steps to Temple 103 Awakes his Lute..and ere the warre begin, Hee lightly skirmishes on every string.

1751 S. Johnson Rambler No. 96. ⁋11 [Falsehood] sometimes waited the attack; but always endeavoured to skirmish at a distance.

1886 Gladstone in Times 9 Apr. 5/5 We should no longer fence or skirmish with this question... We should come to close quarters with it.

c. colloquial (originally U.S.). To make excursions in order to see what one can find; to scout round in search of something.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > endeavour > searching or seeking > make a search [verb (intransitive)] > range about searching

scour1297

prowlc1395

foragea1774

skirmish1864

mouse1874

1864 ‘M. Twain’ in Californian 8 Oct. 1 His first cousin..is a skirmisher and is with the parson—he goes through the camp-meetings and skirmishes for raw converts.

1869 ‘M. Twain’ Innocents Abroad ix. 86 When the commissary department fails they ‘skirmish’, as Jack terms it in his sinful, slangy way.

1893 M. Holley Samantha at World's Fair xix. 608 The males, from creation down, have been left free to skirmish round and git a livin' for themselves.

1894 ‘R. Andom’ We Three & Troddles xxiii. 220 He left the room to skirmish after a clean handkerchief.

1894 ‘R. Andom’ We Three & Troddles xxiv. 231 We had them downstairs and into the cab before they could skirmish after more substantial fare.

1907 S. E. White Arizona Nights (U.K. ed.) 17 We skirmished around and found a condemned army pack saddle with aparejos.

†2. To fence; to make flourishes with a weapon.

ΘΚΠ

society > armed hostility > military equipment > operation and use of weapons > cut of sharp weapon > cut or thrust with sword > use or fight with sword [verb (intransitive)]

skirmisha1387

swash1556

to blade ita1566

to fight, play, etc. at the sharp1579

to cross swords1816

society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > fighting sports > fencing > fence [verb (intransitive)]

playeOE

skirmisha1387

to play at bucklersa1500

swash1556

fencea1616

tilt1699

wrench1771

a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (St. John's Cambr.) (1872) IV. 399 Þan Nero made oon skirmysshe above Seneca his heed with a bryght swerd.

a1500 (?c1450) Merlin xxxii. 648 He myght not se where to smyte, and be-gan to scarmyshe and to grope a-boute hym with his staffe.

1582 N. Lichefield tr. F. L. de Castanheda 1st Bk. Hist. Discouerie E. Indias i. vii. 18 b Then were in sight the number of twentie Moores skirmishing with their dartes.

1763 J. Brown Diss. Poetry & Music xxxvi. 97 After skirmishing for some time with their Swords, one of them (as wounded) fell down.

†3.

a. transitive. To engage or attack (an enemy) in or with a skirmish. Also figurative. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

society > armed hostility > armed encounter > contending in battle > fight (a battle, etc.) [verb (transitive)] > skirmish with

skirmishc1500

escarmouchec1550

c1500 Melusine (1895) 273 Yonder is the kyng vryan.., that scarmyssheth theire nauye.

1524 R. Copland tr. J. de Bourbon Syege Cyte of Rodes in Begynnynge Ordre Knyghtes Hospytallers sig. Civ^v The grete quantyte of artyllery..scarmysshed them so well [etc.].

a1578 R. Lindsay Hist. & Cron. Scotl. (1899) II. 109 They..fell to the Inglischemen, and skirmischit thame so haitlie that they caussit thame reteir.

1678 V. Alsop Melius Inquirendum ii. iii. 188 To war with God, or skirmish the Scripture, is no approved method to secure Peace.

†b. figurative. To win by skirmish. Obsolete. rare.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > prosperity > success > make a success of [verb (transitive)] > win (any contest or prize) > win by skirmish

skirmisha1797

a1797 H. Walpole Mem. George II (1847) II. viii. 271 Fox even skirmished his borough from Dr. Hay.

This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1911; most recently modified version published online March 2022).

单词	skirmish
释义	skirmishn. Brit. /ˈskəːmɪʃ/, U.S. /ˈskərmɪʃ/ Forms: α. Middle English skarmuch, Middle English, 1500s skarmoch, Middle English skarmoche, skarmasche, 1500s skarmusch(e, skarmouch; Middle English scharmoch, scharmus; Middle English scarmuche, scarmusche, scarmusshe, 1500s scarmuss, scarmouch(e, scarmoge; 1500s skaramouche, scaramoche, scaramoshe. β. Middle English skarmich, Middle English skarmyssh, 1500s skarmische; Middle English scarmich, scarmych(e, Middle English scarmysshe. γ. Middle English–1500s skyrmysshe, Middle English–1500s skyrmysh, 1500s skyrmyshe, skyrmish; Middle English–1500s skirmysshe (Middle English scir-, 1500s schyr-), 1500s skirmysche, skirmishe, 1500s– skirmish; Middle English skermyshe, 1500s skermysche, 1600s skermish, skermishe. δ. 1500s skyrmosh, skyr-, skirmush. ε. Middle English–1500s skermyche; 1500s scir-, 1500s–1600s skirmige, 1700s–1800s dialect skirmidge; 1500s scir-, 1500s–1600s skirmage. ζ. 1500s Scottish carmuiche, carmusche. Etymology: The earlier forms are < Old French escar(a)moche, -muche, -musche, etc., < Italian scaramuccia (compare Spanish escaramuza , Portuguese -muça ), of doubtful origin. The later forms scar- , sker- , skirmish (compare scrimmish n.) have been influenced by those forms of the verb which are derived < Old French eskirmiss- ; with the obsolete variants of these in -iche , -ige , -age , compare scrimmage n. and the forms of rubbish n., adj., and int. 1. An irregular engagement between two small bodies of troops, esp. detached or outlying portions of opposing armies; a petty fight or encounter. Also occasionally without article, as a mode of fighting. ΘΚΠ society > armed hostility > armed encounter > [noun] > skirmish bicker1297 skirmishc1374 pointc1440 scourage1470 escarmouche1475 scrimmage1488 scrimmish1523 eskirmish1581 bickerment1586 velitation1616 pickeer1659 α. c1374 G. Chaucer Troilus & Criseyde (Campsall MS.) ii. 934 Now late..we oure tales holde Of Troylus þat is to palays ryden Fro þe skarmuch. c1400 (?c1380) Cleanness l. 1186 Þenne was þe sege sette þe Cete aboute, Skete skarmoch skelt. c1475 Harl. Contin. Higden (Rolls) VIII. 533 They..made there many skarmuches. 1481 W. Caxton tr. Siege & Conqueste Jerusalem (1893) cliv. 228 And there was the skarmoche grete & fiers. 1562 J. Shute tr. A. Cambini in Two Comm. Turcks i. f. 33 They..helde them contynually occupied..with scaramoshes, alarmes, and false assaultes. 1590 E. Spenser Faerie Queene ii. vi. sig. R6^v Not this rude kynd of battaill, nor these armes Are meet,..Such cruell game my scarmoges disarmes. 1601 J. Chamberlain Let. 13 Aug. (1939) I. 129 Slaine there with a shot in an obscure scarmouch. β. c1374 G. Chaucer Troilus & Criseyde ii. 611 Ascry aros at skarmyssh [v.r. scarmich] al with oute.1489 W. Caxton tr. C. de Pisan Bk. Fayttes of Armes i. xxiv. 75 To haue them fyrst at a scarmysshe ayenst the aduersaryes.c1540 (?a1400) Destr. Troy xx. Title Of..Skarmiches Lastyng xxx dayes Betwene the Towne & the tenttes.γ. c1400 Brut ccxxxiv. 324 Pryns Edward,..with sore skyrmisshes & fightyng and grete assautes, fought with hem.c1440 Partonope 911 To profer Skyrmyssh to this Castell.a1513 R. Fabyan New Cronycles Eng. & Fraunce (1516) I. cxviii. f. lv^v By dayly skyrmysshes, & assautes he loste moche of his people.1560 J. Daus tr. J. Sleidane Commentaries f. cclxvij^v The Prince..had offered them the skermysche with the light horsemen.1592 T. Kyd Spanish Trag. i. sig. A4 While they maintaine hot skirmish too and fro, Both battailes ioyne.1688 J. S. Mil. Discipl. 2 Distances for intire Doublings or Skermishes between rank and file is 3 foot.1761 D. Hume Hist. Eng. (1806) IV. lv. 276 In many counties, where the people were divided, mobbish combats and skirmishes ensued.1810 Duke of Wellington Dispatches (1838) VI. 496 Our cavalry had a skirmish with the enemy..in which they had the advantage.1874 J. R. Green Short Hist. Eng. People iii. §5. 141 At this critical moment..the Earl fell in an Irish skirmish.δ. 1514 in H. Ellis Orig. Lett. Eng. Hist. (1827) 2nd Ser. I. 313 Who hathe had manye skyrmoshys withe hyme.1560 P. Whitehorne Certain Waies Orderyng Souldiers (1588) 352 Y^e assaultes..which be called skirmushes be easilie withstood.ε. 1556 in J. G. Nichols Chron. Grey Friars (1852) 45 Thys yere..was a grete skermyche in the north abowte Carlelle.1567 T. Drant tr. Horace Pistles in tr. Horace Arte of Poetrie sig. Bviij The valiant man of warre May..liue at lengthe A parte from scirmage farre.1581 B. Rich Farewell Mil. Profession (1846) 8 The orders of sondrie battailes, and the maner of skirmiges.1623 in W. Foster Eng. Factories India 1622–3 (1908) 240 In the heate of scermadge.1680 C. Ness Compl. Church-hist. 96 Save onely two poor spirts, or small skirmages.?1746 ‘T. Bobbin’ View Lancs. Dial. 28 While th' Skirmidge lastut.a1825 R. Forby Vocab. E. Anglia (1830) Skirmidge, a skirmish.1854 A. E. Baker Gloss. Northants. Words II. 240 ζ. 1535 W. Stewart tr. H. Boethius Bk. Cron. Scotl. (1858) I. 243 With countering and with carmuiches also.1535 W. Stewart tr. H. Boethius Bk. Cron. Scotl. (1858) II. 610 With greit scrymmyng and carmusche euerie da. †2. A body of skirmishers. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ society > armed hostility > armed forces > the Army > group with special function or duty > [noun] > for skirmishing skirmish1562 1562 J. Shute in tr. A. Cambini in Two Comm. Turcks Ep. Ded. sig. *.iii^v Minutius forthwith: sent forthe his lighte armed men and attached the scaramoche. 3. transferred. a. Any contest or encounter. ΘΚΠ society > society and the community > dissent > contention or strife > [noun] > an act or instance of flitec1000 strifea1225 wara1300 pulla1400 lakec1420 contenta1450 stour?c1450 contentiona1500 pingle1543 agony1555 feudc1565 combat1567 skirmish1576 grapple1604 counter-scuffle1628 scuffle1641 agon1649 tug1660 tug of war1677 risse1684 struggle1692 palaver1707 hash1789 warsle1792 scrabble1794 set-to1794 go1823 bucklea1849 wrestle1850 tussle1857 head-to-head1884 scrum1905 battleground1931 shoot-out1953 mud-wrestle1986 society > society and the community > dissent > competition or rivalry > [noun] > a contest or competition match1531 goala1555 vie1568 skirmish1576 rencounter1594 drop-vie1598 duellism1602 duello1606 bout1609 duel1613 competition1618 matcha1637 tournament1638 contest1648 rencontre1667 pingle?1719 sprawla1813 go1823 bet1843 bucklea1849 comp1929 cook-off1936 title race1948 1576 A. Fleming tr. Cicero in Panoplie Epist.* 43 Bitter bruntes and shrewde skyrmishes of aduersitie. 1600 W. Shakespeare Much Ado about Nothing i. i. 60 They neuer meet but there's a skirmish of wit betweene them. View more context for this quotation 1615 G. Sandys Relation of Journey 58 Incountring still in loues sweete skirmiges. 1690 C. Ness Compl. Hist. & Myst. Old & New Test. I. 300 His violent wrestling was not..a short skirmish of a few day-hours. 1720 D. Defoe Mem. Cavalier 78 I had a new Skirmish with him whose the Money should be. 1823 C. Lamb in London Mag. May 536/2 Many and hot were the skirmishes on this topic. 1853 E. K. Kane U.S. Grinnell Exped. l. 472 In two days more, after a closing skirmish with the ice-pack, we headed homeward. b. An action or proceeding of a slight character; a slight display of something. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > doing > a proceeding > [noun] > of a slight character skirmish1651 1651 N. Bacon Contin. Hist. Disc. Govt. 196 By light Skermishes of borrowing smaller sums of Money..and paying them againe, thereby to gain credit for greater sums. 1682 J. Flavell Righteous Man's Refuge in Pract. Treat. Fear (new ed.) 166 The fury of his anger; not some light skirmish of his judgments. c. A scamper, scramble. ΘΚΠ society > travel > aspects of travel > going on foot > [noun] > walking for exercise or recreation > an act of > quick skirmish1835 run1837 flip1914 power walk1986 1835 T. Arnold in A. P. Stanley Life of Dr. Arnold (1844) I. vii. 428 I never have regarded a regular walk along a road..as exercise... A skirmish over the country is a very different thing. 4. attributive, as skirmish-drill, skirmish-line. ΚΠ 1868 Upton Inf. Tactics §638 In the skirmish-drill the officers..will constantly aim to impress each man with the idea of his individuality. 1876 N. Amer. Rev. 123 241 The wonderful exploits on the skirmish-line and at the outposts. This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1911; most recently modified version published online March 2022). skirmishv. Brit. /ˈskəːmɪʃ/, U.S. /ˈskərmɪʃ/ Forms: α. Middle English scarmuche, scarmushe, Middle English–1500s scarmusshe, 1500s scarmusch, scarmush, scarmuss, scarmosh; skarmuss. β. Middle English–1500s scarmysshe, Middle English scarmyshe, scarmish, 1500s scarmissh, scarmesh; Middle English scarmiss, scarmys; Middle English skarmysshe, 1500s skarmisch, skarmis. γ. Middle English scermish, Middle English–1500s skyrmysshe, 1500s skyrmyshe, skyrmish, skirmishe, skirmisch, 1500s– skirmish (1600s scir-). δ. 1500s skyrmyche, 1800s dialect skyrmage. Etymology: The α-forms are < Old French escar(a)mucher, -mucier, < Italian scaramucciare (compare Spanish escaramuzar , Portuguese -muçar ), < scaramuccia : see skirmish n. The forms in -ish are influenced by, or directly based on, Old French eskirmiss- , eskermiss- , the lengthened stem of eskermir , etc.: see skirm v. 1. a. intransitive. To engage in a skirmish or irregular encounter; to fight in small parties. Frequently const. with. ΘΚΠ society > armed hostility > armed encounter > contending in battle > contend in battle or give battle [verb (intransitive)] > skirmish bicker1330 skirmishc1420 scrimmish1523 scrimmage?1536 escarmouche1560 velitand1641 α. c1470 Contin. Brut cclix. 528 Þe Duke..gat peple to him, which come out & scarmusshed [1482 Caxton scar~muched] with þame of Caleys. 1562 J. Shute tr. A. Cambini in Two Comm. Turcks i. f. 33 They salied forth daiely and scaramoshed with them. 1598 R. Barret Theorike & Pract. Mod. Warres iii. 46 Any part of shot or pikes..set to defend any straight, or to scarmush. β. c1420 Chron. Vilod. 282 Þus men bygonne & scar~mysshute fast, Þe twey hostes bothe y-fere.c1475 Partenay 2079 On a day he went, to scarmish with thaim.γ. a1513 R. Fabyan New Cronycles Eng. & Fraunce (1516) II. f. cxxxvii He..Issuyd Boldly agayne y^e foresayd persones, and skyrmysshed, with them.1548 Hall's Vnion: Henry IV f. xxi Thei with light horses began to skirmishe with his hoste.1617 F. Moryson Itinerary ii. 141 Sir John Barkeley..skirmishing with them, killed some dead in the place.1683 Britanniæ Speculum 88 Next Morning the Britains..skirmished with the Roman Horse.1796 J. Morse Amer. Universal Geogr. (new ed.) I. 123 Thence to Acomac, where he skirmished with some Indians.1855 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. III. xv. 607 Some of his ships should skirmish with the enemy: but the great body of his fleet should not be risked.δ. 1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 720/1 They dyd skyrmyche togyther syxe dayes or ever the batayles joyned.1841 C. H. Hartshorne Salopia Antiqua Gloss. Skirmage, to skirmish. b. In figurative uses or contexts. ΚΠ 1587 G. Turberville Tragicall Tales f. 17 Bebrusht with bryers her broosed body bled, The brambles skirmishte had with every vayne. 1601 J. Weever Mirror of Martyrs sig. A8^v But inward Senses skirmish in the night. 1646 R. Crashaw Musicks Duell in Steps to Temple 103 Awakes his Lute..and ere the warre begin, Hee lightly skirmishes on every string. 1751 S. Johnson Rambler No. 96. ⁋11 [Falsehood] sometimes waited the attack; but always endeavoured to skirmish at a distance. 1886 Gladstone in Times 9 Apr. 5/5 We should no longer fence or skirmish with this question... We should come to close quarters with it. c. colloquial (originally U.S.). To make excursions in order to see what one can find; to scout round in search of something. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > endeavour > searching or seeking > make a search [verb (intransitive)] > range about searching scour1297 prowlc1395 foragea1774 skirmish1864 mouse1874 1864 ‘M. Twain’ in Californian 8 Oct. 1 His first cousin..is a skirmisher and is with the parson—he goes through the camp-meetings and skirmishes for raw converts. 1869 ‘M. Twain’ Innocents Abroad ix. 86 When the commissary department fails they ‘skirmish’, as Jack terms it in his sinful, slangy way. 1893 M. Holley Samantha at World's Fair xix. 608 The males, from creation down, have been left free to skirmish round and git a livin' for themselves. 1894 ‘R. Andom’ We Three & Troddles xxiii. 220 He left the room to skirmish after a clean handkerchief. 1894 ‘R. Andom’ We Three & Troddles xxiv. 231 We had them downstairs and into the cab before they could skirmish after more substantial fare. 1907 S. E. White Arizona Nights (U.K. ed.) 17 We skirmished around and found a condemned army pack saddle with aparejos. †2. To fence; to make flourishes with a weapon. ΘΚΠ society > armed hostility > military equipment > operation and use of weapons > cut of sharp weapon > cut or thrust with sword > use or fight with sword [verb (intransitive)] skirmisha1387 swash1556 to blade ita1566 to fight, play, etc. at the sharp1579 to cross swords1816 society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > fighting sports > fencing > fence [verb (intransitive)] playeOE skirmisha1387 to play at bucklersa1500 swash1556 fencea1616 tilt1699 wrench1771 a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (St. John's Cambr.) (1872) IV. 399 Þan Nero made oon skirmysshe above Seneca his heed with a bryght swerd. a1500 (?c1450) Merlin xxxii. 648 He myght not se where to smyte, and be-gan to scarmyshe and to grope a-boute hym with his staffe. 1582 N. Lichefield tr. F. L. de Castanheda 1st Bk. Hist. Discouerie E. Indias i. vii. 18 b Then were in sight the number of twentie Moores skirmishing with their dartes. 1763 J. Brown Diss. Poetry & Music xxxvi. 97 After skirmishing for some time with their Swords, one of them (as wounded) fell down. †3. a. transitive. To engage or attack (an enemy) in or with a skirmish. Also figurative. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ society > armed hostility > armed encounter > contending in battle > fight (a battle, etc.) [verb (transitive)] > skirmish with skirmishc1500 escarmouchec1550 c1500 Melusine (1895) 273 Yonder is the kyng vryan.., that scarmyssheth theire nauye. 1524 R. Copland tr. J. de Bourbon Syege Cyte of Rodes in Begynnynge Ordre Knyghtes Hospytallers sig. Civ^v The grete quantyte of artyllery..scarmysshed them so well [etc.]. a1578 R. Lindsay Hist. & Cron. Scotl. (1899) II. 109 They..fell to the Inglischemen, and skirmischit thame so haitlie that they caussit thame reteir. 1678 V. Alsop Melius Inquirendum ii. iii. 188 To war with God, or skirmish the Scripture, is no approved method to secure Peace. †b. figurative. To win by skirmish. Obsolete. rare. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > prosperity > success > make a success of [verb (transitive)] > win (any contest or prize) > win by skirmish skirmisha1797 a1797 H. Walpole Mem. George II (1847) II. viii. 271 Fox even skirmished his borough from Dr. Hay. This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1911; most recently modified version published online March 2022). < n.c1374v.a1387
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