In military terminology, a skirmish is an interaction in between reasonably little aspects of opposing forces far from the main body. You can think about a skirmish as a quick dust-up in between little groups of combatants.
What is a skirmish in war?
A minor battle in war, as one between small forces or between large forces avoiding direct conflict. 2. A minor or preliminary conflict or dispute: a skirmish over the rules before the debate began.
What is the difference between infantry and skirmishers?
In modern times, following the obsolescence of such heavy troops, all infantry has become indistinguishable from skirmishers, and the term has effectively lost its original military meaning as a distinct class of soldier, although skirmishing as a combat role is commonplace.
How did skirmishers fight in the Revolutionary War?
Once preliminary skirmishing was over, skirmishers participated in the main battle by shooting into the enemy formation, or they joined in melée combat with daggers or short swords. Their mobility made skirmishers also valuable for reconnaissance, especially in wooded or urban areas.
What was the role of skirmishers in ancient Greece?
Once preliminary skirmishing was over, skirmishers participated in the main battle by shooting into the enemy formation, or they joined in melée combat with daggers or short swords. Their mobility made skirmishers also valuable for reconnaissance, especially in wooded or urban areas. In Classical Greece, skirmishers originally had a low status.
What was the purpose of a skirmish?
The aims of skirmishing were to disrupt enemy formations by causing casualties before the main battle and to tempt the opposing infantry into attacking prematurely, thus throwing their organization into disarray.
What is an example of a skirmish?
The definition of a skirmish is a short argument or brief period of fighting. When two people have a brief argument, this is an example of a skirmish. Skirmish is to get involved in a short little argument or fight. When you get involved in a little fight, this is an example of a time when you skirmish.
Is a skirmish a big battle?
noun military A brief battle between small groups, usually part of a longer or larger battle or war . noun figuratively By extension, any minor dispute .
What is skirmish style fighting?
A skirmish is a term first used in the 14th century. It meant a small-scale fight between two opposing forces or a preliminary battle involving troops in front of the main force. Skirmishers were those involved in the fight or battle. It comes from the Old French eskirmir "to defend".
What are synonyms for skirmish?
synonyms for skirmishaltercation.argument.battle.bout.brawl.clash.combat.conflict.More items...
What is the origin of the word skirmish?
skirmish (n.) late 14c., from Old French escarmouche "skirmish," from Italian scaramuccia, earlier schermugio, probably from a Germanic source (compare Old High German skirmen "to protect, defend"), with a diminutive or depreciatory suffix, from Proto-Germanic *skerm-, from PIE root *sker- (1) "to cut."
What are small skirmishes?
A skirmish is a small fight — more a dust-up than a full-out battle — and it can refer to a physical fight or just a battle of words. It is definitely confrontational, though. Think of a skirmish as kind of a mini-battle, although a military skirmish can end with casualties.
What are foot soldiers called?
In modern usage, foot soldiers of any era are now considered infantry and infantrymen.
What is Squirmish?
squirmish (comparative more squirmish, superlative most squirmish) showing signs of restlessness resulting from feelings of discomfort or distress.
What is gentleman's warfare?
Gentleman's warfare (European warfare) was present in Europe and the colonies in the New World from the 1600's - 1800's. It composed of lines of troops taking turns firing back at each other, smaller skirmishes, cavalry attacks, and artillery bombardments.
Why did soldiers fight in lines?
In some cases, it was possible to overturn the enemy with just one volley at a short distance. The line was considered as the fundamental battle formation as it allowed for the largest deployment of firepower.
What is a Skirmisher LOL?
Skirmishes in League of Legends are multiple trades or duels you and your team have with enemies, generally around the mid game. Skirmishes can also be considered the “calm before the storm” prior to a big team fight happening where you throw your abilities at the enemy in attempts to poke them down.
How to use "skirmish" in a sentence?
How to use skirmish in a sentence. More broadly, however, this skirmish also shows the growing importance of visual disinformation as a political tool. There have been skirmish es in courts across the country in recent years over whether employers can require workers to get a flu shot.
What is the military?
Military. a fight between small bodies of troops, especially advanced or outlying detachments of opposing armies. any brisk conflict or encounter: She had a skirmish with her landlord about the rent.
Pre-modern
Agrianian peltast. He holds three javelins, one in his throwing hand and two in his pelte hand as additional ammunition.
The Americas
The Seven Years War and American Revolutionary War were two early conflicts in which the modern rifle began to make a significant contribution to warfare. Its accuracy at relatively long range increasingly offered advantages over the smoothbore musket in common use among professional armies of the mid-18th century.
American Civil War
The treatise, New American Tactics, by General John Watts de Peyster advocated making the skirmish line the new line of battle, a revolutionary idea at the time.
Modern
By the late 19th century, the concept of fighting in formation was on the wane, and the distinctions between skirmishers and heavy infantry has now disappeared.
Examples of skirmish in a Sentence
Noun Skirmishes broke out between rebel groups. Violent skirmishes with the enemy continue despite talks of peace.
History and Etymology for skirmish
Middle English skyrmissh, alteration (influenced by Anglo-French eskermir to fence (with swords), protect, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German scirmen to protect, scirm shield) of skarmuch, from Anglo-French escarmuche, from Old Italian scaramuccia — more at screen
Kids Definition of skirmish
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What is a skirmish?
skirmish. ( ˈskɜːmɪʃ) n. 1. (Military) a minor short-lived military engagement. 2. any brisk clash or encounter, usually of a minor nature. vb. (often foll by: with) to engage in a skirmish. [C14: from Old French eskirmir, of Germanic origin; related to Old High German skirmen to defend]
What does "skirmish" mean?
1. a fight between small bodies of troops. 2. any brisk conflict or encounter. v.i. 3. to engage in a skirmish. [1300–50 < Old French eskirmiss-, s. of eskirmir < Frankish; compare Old High German skirman to defend]
What is a minor battle?
A minor battle in war, as one between small forces or between large forces avoiding direct conflict. 2. A minor or preliminary conflict or dispute: a skirmish over the rules before the debate began. To engage in a minor battle or dispute.
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Overview
Skirmishers are light infantry or light cavalry soldiers deployed as a vanguard, flank guard or rearguard to screen a tactical position or a larger body of friendly troops from enemy advances. They are usually deployed in a skirmish line, an irregular open formation that is much more spread out in depth and in breadth than a traditional line formation. Their purpose is to harass the enemy by engaging the…
Ancient history
In ancient warfare, skirmishers typically carried bows, javelins, slings and sometimes light shields. Acting as light infantry with their light arms and minimal armour, they could run ahead of the main battle line; release a volley of arrows, sling stones, or javelins; and retreat behind their main battle line before the clash of the opposing main forces. The aims of skirmishing were to disrupt enemy f…
Middle Ages
Medieval skirmishers were generally commoners armed with crossbows or longbows. In the 14th century, although long held in disdain by the aristocratic Castilian heavy cavalry, the crossbowmen contributed greatly to the Portuguese victory at the Battle of Aljubarrota. Similarly, English archers played a key role in the English victory over French heavy cavalry at the Battle of Crécy. In the next century, they largely repeated that feat at the Battle of Agincourt. Such disasters have been seen …
Early modern period
The Seven Years' War and American Revolutionary War were two early conflicts in which the modern rifle began to make a significant contribution to warfare. Despite its lower rate of fire, its accuracy at long range offered advantages over the smoothbore musket, then commonly used by regular armies. In both wars, many American frontiersmen served in the militia. The Continental Army during …
Late modern period
By the late 19th century, the concept of fighting in formation was on the wane. Heavy infantry had disappeared, and all infantry effectively became skirmishers. The term has become obsolete, but as late as World War I, it continued to be associated with battlefield reconnaissance screens, which are essentially modern skirmish lines. As in the American Civil War, the primary role of the inf…
See also
• Battle
• Demoralization (warfare)
• Francs-tireurs
• Grenz infantry
• List of military tactics
Sources
• Randolph, Lewis Hamersly, Biographical Sketches of Distinguished Officers of the Army and Navy, Henry E. Huntington Library: New York, 1905.
Further reading
• "Light Infantry", special issue of Ancient Warfare, 2/1 (2008)