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Skirmished: meaning, definitions and examples

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skirmished

 

[ ˈskɜːrmɪʃt ]

Verb
Context #1 | Verb

military engagement

Skirmished refers to engaging in a minor or preliminary battle, often involving small forces. It typically occurs between two or more parties that may not be fully committed to a larger battle. Skirmishing serves as a tactic for reconnaissance and disrupting enemy operations without escalating into full-scale warfare. It can also refer to any small or informal conflict or disagreement.

Synonyms

battled, clashed, engaged, fought.

Examples of usage

  • The soldiers skirmished during their training exercises.
  • Two rival factions skirmished over territory.
  • They skirmished on the outskirts of the city.
  • The two teams skirmished fiercely in the first half of the game.

Translations

Translations of the word "skirmished" in other languages:

🇵🇹 confrontado

🇮🇳 झगड़ा किया

🇩🇪 gekämpft

🇮🇩 bertempur

🇺🇦 зав'язав бій

🇵🇱 stoczył potyczkę

🇯🇵 小競り合いをした

🇫🇷 bataillé

🇪🇸 escaramuzado

🇹🇷 çatıştı

🇰🇷 교전했다

🇸🇦 تقاتل

🇨🇿 potýkal se

🇸🇰 pobil sa

🇨🇳 交战

🇸🇮 boril se

🇮🇸 samskipti

🇰🇿 ұрысқа шықты

🇬🇪 ჩხუბობდა

🇦🇿 döyüşdü

🇲🇽 pelearon

Etymology

The term 'skirmish' has its origins in the late 15th century, derived from the Old French word 'eskirmiss-' which means to fight or conflict. This word, in turn, has roots in the Middle French 'eskirmir'. Its use in English was initially associated with small-scale combat situations, predominantly in military contexts. Over time, the meaning broadened, and 'skirmish' began to encompass any minor altercation or dispute, whether in military, social, or even sporting contexts. The word's evolution reflects the dynamics of conflict and engagement in various settings, illustrating its versatility in describing confrontations that are brief and not part of a larger conflict.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #36,706, this word is encountered relatively rarely in everyday English. It might appear in literary works or specialized texts but isn't essential for general communication.