skirmish

Plural: skirmishes

Noun

a minor short-term fight
A brief battle between small groups, usually part of a longer or larger battle or war.
Any minor dispute.
A type of outdoor military style game using paintball or similar weapons.

Verb

Verb Forms: skirmished, skirmishing, skirmishes

To engage in a minor battle or conflict.
engage in a skirmish
To engage in a minor battle or dispute.

Examples

The players continually skirmish over premium squares, each trying to block the other.
Three people were arrested after a skirmish in a bar.

Origin / Etymology

From Middle English skirmish (as a verb), from Old French escarmouche (“skirmish”), from Italian scaramuccia, earlier schermugio. Doublet of escarmouche, Scaramouche, and Scaramucci.

Synonyms

brush, clash, encounter

Scrabble Score: 17

skirmish: valid Scrabble (US) TWL Word
skirmish: valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
skirmish: valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 17

skirmish: valid Words With Friends Word