From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishskirmishskir‧mish /ˈskɜːmɪʃ $ ˈskɜːr-/ noun [countable] 1 PMWARa fight between small groups of soldiers, ships etc, especially one that happens away from the main part of a battle – used in news reportsskirmish with/between/over The young soldier was killed in a skirmish with government troops.► see thesaurus at war2 ARGUEa short argument, especially between political or sports opponentsskirmish with/between/over Bates was sent off after a skirmish with the referee. a budget skirmish between the president and Congress —skirmish verb [intransitive] They skirmished briefly with soldiers from Fort Benton.
Examples from the Corpus
skirmish• He talks of regrouping like a colonel after a skirmish at Yellow Tavern.• Government soldiers ran into a group of rebels, and a skirmish followed.• But what began in May 1998 as a skirmish over a remote stretch of border exposed a deep reservoir of bitterness.• They might well prevail in any skirmish with the local forces, but in the circumstances that would be of little profit.• The peace of Utrecht ended the war proper in 1713, but desultory skirmishes carried on until 1714.• Individual skirmishes flickered and stuttered in the distance.• Last night skirmishes were reported along the border.• Such are the preliminary skirmishes of all new foundations.• SAIC's previous skirmishes with investigators had attracted little attention.• On this last one, grunts had made light contact and reported several skirmishes where we had dropped them.• This was the first tiny skirmish in what was to be a major battle.skirmish with/between/over• He had finished fourth in the opening race after a skirmish with Aussie Anthony Gobert.• But what began in May 1998 as a skirmish over a remote stretch of border exposed a deep reservoir of bitterness.• They might well prevail in any skirmish with the local forces, but in the circumstances that would be of little profit.• Such were the victories available to the Commandant in his skirmishes with his Political Officer.• Its skirmish with the regulators, however, is just one of the Board of Trade's problems these days.• There are traffic jams, skirmishes with the boys.• That afternoon saw slight skirmishes between the outposts of the opposing forces.• He did not hesitate to skirmish with the Confederates now, for his position was a strong one.skirmish with/between/over• He had finished fourth in the opening race after a skirmish with Aussie Anthony Gobert.• But what began in May 1998 as a skirmish over a remote stretch of border exposed a deep reservoir of bitterness.• They might well prevail in any skirmish with the local forces, but in the circumstances that would be of little profit.• Such were the victories available to the Commandant in his skirmishes with his Political Officer.• Its skirmish with the regulators, however, is just one of the Board of Trade's problems these days.• There are traffic jams, skirmishes with the boys.• That afternoon saw slight skirmishes between the outposts of the opposing forces.• He did not hesitate to skirmish with the Confederates now, for his position was a strong one.Origin skirmish (1300-1400) Old French escaramouche, from Old Italian scaramuccia 