\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.

\Skir"mish\, n.[OE. scarmishe, scrymishe. See
{Skirmish}, v. i.]
1. A slight fight in war; a light or desultory combat between
   detachments from armies, or between detached and small
   bodies of troops.
2. A slight contest.
         They never meet but there's a skirmish of wit.
                                               --Shak.