Webster's English Dictionary

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skirmish

Cross references:
  1. encounter             
 
1. skir.mish \'sk*r-mish\ n [ME skyrmissh, alter. of skarmish, fr. MF 
   escarmouche, fr. OI]t scaramuccia, of Gmc origin; akin to OHG skirmen to 
   defend 1: a minor fight in war usu. incidental to larger movements  2: a 
   brisk preliminary verbal conflict 
2. skirmish vi 1a: to engage in a skirmish  1b: to engage in a minor or 
   preliminary argument  2: to search about (as for supplies) : scout around  
   - skir.mish.er n