escarmouche

French

Etymology

From Middle French, from Old French escharmuche (“skirmish”), from Old Italian scaramuccia (“skirnish”), from Lombardic *skirmjan (“to protect, defend”), from Proto-Germanic *skermijanan (“to shelter”), from Proto-Indo-European *(s)ker- (“to cut”). Cognate with Old High German skirmen, scirmen (“to shield, defend, protect”), Old High German skirm (“shade, protection”). More at skirmish, screen.

Noun

escarmouche f (plural escarmouches)

1. skirmish, dispute
2. (military) a small combat