skirmish

skir·mish

S0454500 (skûr′mĭsh)n.1. A minor battle in war, as one between small forces or between large forces avoiding direct conflict.2. A minor or preliminary conflict or dispute: a skirmish over the rules before the debate began.intr.v. skir·mished, skir·mish·ing, skir·mish·es To engage in a minor battle or dispute.

---

[Middle English skirmisshe, alteration (influenced by Middle English skirmisshen, to brandish a weapon) of skarmush, from Old French eskarmouch, from Old Italian scaramuccia, of Germanic origin; see sker- in Indo-European roots.]

---

skir′mish·er n.

skirmish

(ˈskɜːmɪʃ) n1. (Military) a minor short-lived military engagement2. any brisk clash or encounter, usually of a minor naturevb (often foll by: with) to engage in a skirmish[C14: from Old French eskirmir, of Germanic origin; related to Old High German skirmen to defend] ˈskirmisher n

skir•mish

(ˈskɜr mɪʃ)

n. 1. a fight between small bodies of troops. 2. any brisk conflict or encounter. v.i. 3. to engage in a skirmish. [1300–50 < Old French eskirmiss-, s. of eskirmir < Frankish; compare Old High German skirman to defend] skir′mish•er, n.

skirmish

Past participle: skirmished
Gerund: skirmishing

Imperative
skirmish
skirmish

Present
I skirmish
you skirmish
he/she/it skirmishes
we skirmish
you skirmish
they skirmish

Preterite
I skirmished
you skirmished
he/she/it skirmished
we skirmished
you skirmished
they skirmished

Present Continuous
I am skirmishing
you are skirmishing
he/she/it is skirmishing
we are skirmishing
you are skirmishing
they are skirmishing

Present Perfect
I have skirmished
you have skirmished
he/she/it has skirmished
we have skirmished
you have skirmished
they have skirmished

Past Continuous
I was skirmishing
you were skirmishing
he/she/it was skirmishing
we were skirmishing
you were skirmishing
they were skirmishing

Past Perfect
I had skirmished
you had skirmished
he/she/it had skirmished
we had skirmished
you had skirmished
they had skirmished

Future
I will skirmish
you will skirmish
he/she/it will skirmish
we will skirmish
you will skirmish
they will skirmish

Future Perfect
I will have skirmished
you will have skirmished
he/she/it will have skirmished
we will have skirmished
you will have skirmished
they will have skirmished

Future Continuous
I will be skirmishing
you will be skirmishing
he/she/it will be skirmishing
we will be skirmishing
you will be skirmishing
they will be skirmishing

Present Perfect Continuous
I have been skirmishing
you have been skirmishing
he/she/it has been skirmishing
we have been skirmishing
you have been skirmishing
they have been skirmishing

Future Perfect Continuous
I will have been skirmishing
you will have been skirmishing
he/she/it will have been skirmishing
we will have been skirmishing
you will have been skirmishing
they will have been skirmishing

Past Perfect Continuous
I had been skirmishing
you had been skirmishing
he/she/it had been skirmishing
we had been skirmishing
you had been skirmishing
they had been skirmishing

Conditional
I would skirmish
you would skirmish
he/she/it would skirmish
we would skirmish
you would skirmish
they would skirmish

Past Conditional
I would have skirmished
you would have skirmished
he/she/it would have skirmished
we would have skirmished
you would have skirmished
they would have skirmished

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	skirmish - a minor short-term fight encounter, clash, brushcontretemps - an awkward clash; "he tried to smooth over his contretemps with the policeman"fighting, combat, fight, scrap - the act of fighting; any contest or struggle; "a fight broke out at the hockey game"; "there was fighting in the streets"; "the unhappy couple got into a terrible scrap"
Verb	1.	skirmish - engage in a skirmishfight, struggle, contend - be engaged in a fight; carry on a fight; "the tribesmen fought each other"; "Siblings are always fighting"; "Militant groups are contending for control of the country"

skirmish

noun1. fight, battle, conflict, incident, clash, contest, set-to (informal), encounter, brush, combat, scrap (informal), engagement, spat, tussle, fracas, affray (Law), dust-up (informal), scrimmage Border skirmishes are common.2. argument, fight, row, clash, dispute, falling out (informal), disagreement, feud, quarrel, barney (informal), squabble, wrangle, bickering, difference of opinion, altercation, turf war (informal) This difference has led to several political skirmishes.verb1. fight, clash, come to blows, scrap (informal), collide, grapple, wrangle, tussle, lock horns, cross swords Police skirmished with youths on a council estate last Friday.

skirmish

nounA brief, hostile exposure to or contact with something such as danger or opposition:brush, clash, encounter, run-in.

Translations