different between warfare vs skirmish

English

Etymology

Mid 15^thc., Middle English werefare, from Middle English werre (“war”) +? fare (“journey, going”), equivalent to war +? fare.

Pronunciation

• (General American) IPA^(key): /?w??f??/
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /?w??f??/
• Hyphenation: war?fare

Noun

warfare (usually uncountable, plural warfares)

1. The waging of war or armed conflict against an enemy.

   • The Philistines gathered their armies together for warfare, to fight with Israel.

2. Military operations of some particular kind e.g. guerrilla warfare.

Derived terms

Related terms

• war

Translations

Verb

warfare (third-person singular simple present warfares, present participle warfaring, simple past and past participle warfared)

1. To lead a military life; to carry on continual wars.

References

• warfare in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.

English

Alternative forms

• scirmish

Etymology

From Middle English [Term?], from Old French escarmouche (“skirmish”), from Italian scaramuccia, earlier schermugio.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /?sk??m??/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /?sk?m??/
• Hyphenation: skir?mish

Noun

skirmish (plural skirmishes)

1. (military) A brief battle between small groups, usually part of a longer or larger battle or war.
2. (figuratively, by extension) Any minor dispute.

3. A type of outdoor military style game using paintball or similar weapons.

Synonyms

• See also Thesaurus:fight
• See also Thesaurus:dispute

Related terms

• screen

Translations

Verb

skirmish (third-person singular simple present skirmishes, present participle skirmishing, simple past and past participle skirmished)

1. To engage in a minor battle or dispute

Translations