Dictionary
Find
in
Dictionary
Thesaurus
Translations

Click to move up the list of words
skipjack
skiplane
skipper (1)
skipper (2)
skipping
skipping rope
Skipton
skirl
skirmish
skirr
skirret
skirt
skirt-chaser
skirt finger
skirt steak
skirting
skirting board
Click to move down the list of words
Print Preview
See pronunciation key
Search for "skirmish" in all of MSN Encarta
E-mail this entry
Blog about this entry on MSN Spaces
Download the MSN Encarta Right-Click Dictionary

skirmish

skir·mish [ skúrmish ]


noun  (plural skir·mish·es)
Definition:
 
1. brief fight between two armed groups: an incident where fighting breaks out briefly between two small groups, sometimes as part of a larger battle

2. scuffle: a brief fight or disagreement between people



intransitive verb  (past and past participle skir·mished, present participle skir·mish·ing, 3rd person present singular skir·mish·es)
Definition:
 
engage in minor battle: to become involved in a skirmish

[14th century. < Old French eskermiss- "to fence" < Germanic, "defend"]

skir·mish·er noun

Word Key: Synonyms

See fight.

Advertisement

Also on Encarta
Englishtown: Learn English online
Our Partners
Also on MSN
Encarta Message Boards (© Rubberball/Jupiterimages)
Shopping
© 2009 Microsoft