Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Skirmish \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.

Skirmish \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.

Source : WordNet®

skirmish
     n : a minor short-term fight [syn: {brush}, {clash}, {encounter}]
     v : engage in a skirmish