Find the synonyms or antonyms of a word



Antonyms for skirmish


Grammar : Noun, verb
Spell : skur-mish
Phonetic Transcription : ˈskɜr mɪʃ



Definition of skirmish

Origin :
  • late 14c., from Old French escarmouche "skirmish," from Italian scaramuccia, earlier schermugio, probably from a Germanic source (cf. Old High German skirmen "to protect, defend"), with a diminutive or depreciatory suffix, from Proto-Germanic *skerm-, from PIE *(s)ker- (1) "to cut" (see shear).
  • Influenced in Middle English by a separate verb skirmysshen "to brandish a weapon," from Old French eskirmiss-, stem of eskirmir "to fence," from Frankish *skirmjan, from the same Germanic source. Cf. also scrimmage. Other modern Germanic forms have an additional diminutive affix: German scharmützel, Dutch schermutseling, Danish skjærmydsel. Skirmish-line attested by 1864.
  • noun fight
  • verb fight
Example sentences :
  • Went with Pierre to the summit of Skirmish Hill, and took angles.
  • Extract from : « Explorations in Australia » by John Forrest
  • The skirmish lasted about fifteen minutes, the enemy firing from the houses.
  • Extract from : « Ridgeway » by Scian Dubh
  • I cut him nigh to the saddle-bow in a skirmish on the eve of Dunbar.
  • Extract from : « Micah Clarke » by Arthur Conan Doyle
  • But after a skirmish or two, what with the roads and what with the enemy, our horses were foundered and useless.
  • Extract from : « Micah Clarke » by Arthur Conan Doyle
  • Have you forgot the skirmish on the Rhine bank, when you did flash your snapphahn at me?
  • Extract from : « Micah Clarke » by Arthur Conan Doyle
  • Rademacher had been buried immediately after the skirmish with all honors.
  • Extract from : « The Story of the Great War, Volume III (of VIII) » by Various
  • The time for Border feud and skirmish was already well-nigh past.
  • Extract from : « The Balladists » by John Geddie
  • The expenditure of ammunition during this skirmish was great.
  • Extract from : « Punch or the London Charivari, Vol. 147, December 2, 1914 » by Various
  • There ensued a skirmish approaching in dignity to an engagement.
  • Extract from : « The Long Roll » by Mary Johnston
  • He who is not faithful in a skirmish would not be faithful in an Armageddon.
  • Extract from : « The Wedding Ring » by T. De Witt Talmage

Synonyms for skirmish

Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019