SKIRMISH

Pronunciation (US):

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does skirmish mean? 

• SKIRMISH (noun)
  The noun SKIRMISH has 1 sense:

1. a minor short-term fight

  Familiarity information: SKIRMISH used as a noun is very rare.

• SKIRMISH (verb)
  The verb SKIRMISH has 1 sense:

1. engage in a skirmish

  Familiarity information: SKIRMISH used as a verb is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• SKIRMISH (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A minor short-term fight

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

brush; clash; encounter; skirmish

Hypernyms ("skirmish" is a kind of...):

combat; fight; fighting; scrap (the act of fighting; any contest or struggle)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "skirmish"):

contretemps (an awkward clash)

Derivation:

skirmish (engage in a skirmish)

• SKIRMISH (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they skirmish    ... he / she / it skirmishes   
Past simple: skirmished   
Past participle: skirmished   
-ing form: skirmishing   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Engage in a skirmish

Classified under:

Verbs of fighting, athletic activities

Hypernyms (to "skirmish" is one way to...):

contend; fight; struggle (be engaged in a fight; carry on a fight)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s

Derivation:

skirmish (a minor short-term fight)

skirmisher (someone who skirmishes (e.g., as a member of a scouting party))

 Context examples 

We have had some skirmishes, but we had never set eyes upon each other before.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Aye, by my faith, cried Sir Nigel, with sparkling eyes, we have seen some valiant men, and we have shown our pennons in some noble skirmishes.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

She and Amy had had many lively skirmishes in the course of their lives, for both had quick tempers and were apt to be violent when fairly roused.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

You may skirmish with Miss Dartle, or try to hide your sympathies in jest from me, but I know better.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

As soon as they got into order they divided into two parties, performed mock skirmishes, discharged blunt arrows, drew their swords, fled and pursued, attacked and retired, and in short discovered the best military discipline I ever beheld.

(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)

Six great land battles I count, with four upon sea, and seven and fifty onfalls, skirmishes and bushments.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

“Aha! What! you recollect my skirmishes with Rosa, do you?” he exclaimed with a quick look.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

After many skirmishes and snubbings, the ambitious pair were considered effectually quenched and went about with forlorn faces, which were rather belied by explosions of laughter when the two got together.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

I cannot call to mind how the thing came about, for it was in the year of the Prince's ride through Languedoc, when there was much fine skirmishing to be had at barriers.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

That he was well known in the neighbourhood, and enjoyed the reputation of having sold himself to the devil, I soon understood from the visits he received from the boys, who continually came skirmishing about the shop, shouting that legend, and calling to him to bring out his gold.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)