skirmish English · revision 1361

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈskɜːmɪʃ/ ''(UK)''; /ˈskɝmɪʃ/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is Middle English, ''skarmuch'' altered to ''skirmissh'',^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) [[der|fro|escarmouche]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) [[der|it|scaramuccia]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) which is of Germanic origin,^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) related to Old High German ''skirmen'' “to protect” and ''skirm'' “shield”.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) The form was influenced by Middle English ''skirmisshen'' “to brandish a weapon”, from Old French ''eskirmir'' “to fence”.^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) It is related to [[scrimmage]] and [[screen]].^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ As a verb, to engage in a skirmish (probably before 1200).^(Barnhart 1995) The noun is recorded from about 1380.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The word first meant an irregular fight between small bodies of troops.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) By 1576 it was used of any contest or encounter,^(OED 1989) and the modern figurative sense of a brisk minor dispute follows from this.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) In American colloquial use from 1864 it could mean to scout about in search of something.^(OED 1989)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * probably before 1200 – verb, to skirmish.^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * about 1380 – noun, a minor fight.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1387 – to brandish a weapon, to fence.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1576 – any contest or encounter.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1864 – to scout around, US colloquial.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A minor fight between small groups of troops, often part of a larger battle.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A minor or preliminary dispute or contest.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To take part in a skirmish.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To search or scout about.^(MW Collegiate)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[skirmisher]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[screen]]

+ * [[scrimmage]]

+ * [[scaramouch]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Random House gives ''combat'' and ''brush'' as synonyms and refers to ''battle'' for a discussion.^(RHWU)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}