skirmish

Skirmish, n.

Etymology: [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.

1 other Webster entry under this spelling

Skirmish, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Skirmished; p. pr. & vb. n. Skirmishing.]

To fight slightly or in small parties; to engage in a skirmish or skirmishes; to act as skirmishers.

Shades of meaning

Fernald has no entry of its own for skirmish; he lists it under battle.

Where he writes about it:

A skirmish is between small detachments or scattered troops. — from battle