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First published 2000 (DOST Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Scarmis(c)h(e, Skirmis(c)h(e, n. Also: skar- and -mis, -mys(che; mus(c)h(e, -mwsch, -mouche, -mus; -meis(h, -mes; sharmes; scremouche; scirmish; sky(i)r- and -mise, -mist, -me(i)s, -mish, -mysshe, -musche; skirmage; scrymishe; scrymmage; skyrmyng. [ME and e.m.E. skarmoch (14th c.), skarmyssh, -much (both Chaucer), skarmich (c1400), skrimishe (1505), skyrmosh (1514), scrymage (1549), scresmys (1557), skyrmush, skermyche (both 1560), scaramoche, screamishe, scrimishe (all 1562), scirmage (1567), scirmige (1581), OF, MF escremie (12th c. in Larousse), eschermie, escarmie (12th-15th c. in Wartburg), MF escarmuche (14th c. in Wartburg); Scarmische v. See also Carmusche n. and Escharmousch n.]

1. A skirmish, or skirmishing, an irregular encounter or minor conflict, esp. between small groups of opposing forces.(1) 1531 Bell. Boece II 287.
Ane wond that he gatt at ane scarmus Ib. 447.
At the first skarmusche, Schir Johne Claremont, merschal of France, was slane Id. Livy I 22/6.
Thir brethir rais ilk day in grete haterent, persewing vthir with maist cruelte and slauchter. At last thai mett togiddir at ane skarmusche in quhilk Remus alwayis was slane 1570 Leslie 48.
Thair wes dayly raidis, skarmisheis and invasionis Ib. 186.
Thair was mony scarmushis and invasionis 1571 Misc. Bann. C. III 126.
A skarmish in Skotland, betwix Edinburgh and Leith, betuix Huntly … against Morton 1558-66 Knox I 221.
Some skarmessis thare war betuix the one and the other a1586 Maitland Ho. Seytoun 22.
At ane scarmische Williame Seytoun … followit sa fast that he was takin prisonare a1595 Cullen Chron. Aberd. 38.
Thair was ane skarmys betuix my Lord Lyndsay and the Lard Wyrmyston a1597-1617 Hist. Jas. VI (1825) 139.
He assalyeit thame in the nyght. The scarmish was great on both sydis dyvers slayne sindrie hurt and many preasoners tayne c1615 Chron. Kings 152.
In the quhilkis carmeissis, M^cLeane … sleyis the Erlle of Huntlyis fader brother, … thar being ane gritt skarmeis(b) 1569-73 Bann. Memor. 237.
Thei wold go furth to draw on a skyrmise 1572–3 Ib. 303.
At all skirmishes and vther tymes of pursuite of the king and his faithfull subjectis Ib. 177.
Skyrmishis Id. Trans. 177.
This skyrmis conteanewed fra 7 houris … till 5 houris at ewin 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 219.
In this haill skyirmis, thair wes ane suddart slane Ib. 58.
Skirmist Ib. 246.
Skirmeis a1578 Pitsc. I 283/29.
Lang tyme efterwart this skirmische was callit be the commons … ‘clenȝe calsay' 1596 Dalr. I 75/17.
And making freindship with sa rude a people thay thocht that eftir sum lycht skirmishes thay mycht grow into ane people 1604 Hist. Clan Gregor I 378.
At the fecht or skirmisch of Bintoiche c1615 Chron. Kings 34.
Skirmeissis 1654 Nicoll Diary 121.
Skirmesis betuix the Englisches and Scottis 16.. Macfarlane's Geog. Coll. II 199.
Glenfroon famous for the scirmish betwixt the M^cGregors who ravadged this countrey in 1603 where the Colquhouns … were defeat and many of the gentry … killed — 15.. Clar. iii 321.
Everilke skirmage and new debait Of Cyprianis and of Saraseinis(c) c1475 Wall. iii 359.
Ane Inglisman, on the gait, saw he play At the scrymmagis [M^cD. scrymmage], a bukler on his hand Ib. ix 458.
Then Longaweill … With Wallace past, as ane to that scrymmage. Thir four hundreth rycht wondyr weyll arayit Befor the toun [etc.](2) 1535 Stewart 18907.
With skirmische and conteryng ilk da Ib. 10278.
Skirmusche 1547–8 Cal. Sc. P. I 82.
That they shuld burne the barnes about the house ande giff scrymishe thereunto 1571 Ib. III 595.
[The earl … sent for his horses, and pursued them] in skyrmysshe [to Craigmyller]

b. A raid or incursion.(a) 1533 Bell. Livy I 86/27.
Thai come aganis the Romanis with ane haisty skarmusch 1533 Boece 147b.
Be licht iupertyis and skarmwschis all the somer thai suld impesch Romanis 1559 Cal. Sc. P. I 282.
[The inhabitants provoked by] sum lycht scarmysche [rashly] mellit [with the enemy](b) a1578 Pitsc. II 119/23.
Thay wald nocht pas in Ingland at that tyme to invaid it with na sharmes

c. A sudden assault on or gainst a person or an enemy force. c1475 Wall. viii 814.
Quhen that thai trowyt the Scottis was all at rest … With v thowsand welle garnest and sawage Apon the Scottis thai thocht to mak scrymmage [1570 skirmage] And at [the] ȝet wschyt owt 1549 Compl. 114/13.
To mak ane scarmouche on the Romans 1554 Corr. M. Lorraine 384.
Thair is ane slauchter committit in the scremouche wpoun George Drummond 1581-1623 James VI Poems I 147/308.
For to yokke a skarmushe hotte … Gainst Adamis head

d. A series of raids intended to engage enemy forces over a wide area; skirmishing as a strategy. Ib. 262b.
Congall … aduertist the king of Pichtis he suld be of conforte and with … skarmusch suld defend his landis quhil his cuming 1533 Boece 449.
King Malcolme … contracting ane armye passit aganis inemyis devising be skarmusch alanerlie refrene thare audacite

e. fig. A quick darting movement (? forward then back again). 1581-1623 James VI Poems I 133/170.
The iugler fyne … can no uayes makke to dance Makke skarmushes rinn & retyre & syne againe auance His littill marmousettis

2. A mock battle. See also Scarmis(c)hing vbl. n. b. 1570-3 Bann. Trans. 98 (see Scarmische v. 2.).
Scarmis 1578 Edinb. B. Rec. IV 79.
It is the kyngis maiesteis will that the young men … mak his hienes ane scarmeish their, quhairfor thei ordane James Ros to send tham … fourtie pound wycht of pulder(b) 1569-73 Bann. Memor. 91 (see Scarmische v. 2.).
Skyrmeis

3. ? Some sort of firelock. 1589 Wedderb. Compt Bk. 182.
A hackbuit with a snap, … a hackbuit with a skarmische 1627 Whitelaw Sc. Arms Makers 198.
[His say viz.] ane skarmisch of ane hagbute Ib.
[David Fender gunmaker … his sey] ane scarmisch work to be made