Skirmishing

1 definition found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Skirmish \Skir"mish\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Skirmished}; p. pr. &
     vb. n. {Skirmishing}.] [OE. skirmishen, scarmishen, OF.
     escremir, eskermir, to fence, fight, F. escrimer, of German
     origin; cf. OHG. scirmen to protect, defend, G. schirmen,
     OHG. scirm, scerm, protection, shield, G. schirm; perhaps
     akin to Gr. ???? a sunshade. Cf. {Scaramouch}, {Scrimmage}.]


     To fight slightly or in small parties; to engage in a
     skirmish or skirmishes; to act as skirmishers.
     [1913 Webster]