skirmish
noun/ˈskɜːmɪʃ/
/ˈskɜːrmɪʃ/
- a short fight between small groups of soldiers, etc., especially one that is not planned
- Several people were killed in skirmishes during the night.
Extra Examples- Minor skirmishes broke out all along the border.
- They were involved in a skirmish with rival fans.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- brief
- little
- minor
- …
- break out
- go on
- happen
- …
- in a/the skirmish
- skirmish between
- skirmish over
- …
- a short argument, especially between political opponents
- a skirmish between the two party leaders
- an opening skirmish in the protracted media battle ahead
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- brief
- little
- minor
- …
- break out
- go on
- happen
- …
- in a/the skirmish
- skirmish between
- skirmish over
- …
Word OriginMiddle English (as a verb): from Old French eskirmiss-, lengthened stem of eskirmir, from a Germanic verb meaning ‘defend’.
Check pronunciation:
skirmish