a short fight between small groups of soldiers, etc., especially one that is not planned 小规模战斗；小冲突；（尤指）遭遇战 Several people were killed in skirmishes during the night. 几个人在夜间的小冲突中丧生。
Extra ExamplesMinor skirmishes broke out all along the border. 边界多处爆发了小规模战斗。 They were involved in a skirmish with rival fans. 他们和对方球迷发生了冲突。
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- brief
- little
- minor
- …
- break out
- go on
- happen
- …
- in a/the skirmish
- skirmish between
- skirmish over
- …
a short argument, especially between political opponents （尤指政治上对立双方的）小争执，小争论 a skirmish between the two party leaders 两党领导人间的摩擦。 an opening skirmish in the protracted media battle ahead 引发日后旷日持久的媒体战的第一次冲突
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- brief
- little
- minor
- …
- break out
- go on
- happen
- …
- in a/the skirmish
- skirmish between
- skirmish over
- …
Word OriginMiddle English (as a verb): from Old French eskirmiss-, lengthened stem of eskirmir, from a Germanic verb meaning ‘defend’.