scrimmage

[ skrim-ij ]
/ ˈskrɪm ɪdʒ /

noun

a rough or vigorous struggle.
Football.
  1. the action that takes place between the teams from the moment the ball is snapped until it is declared dead.Compare line of scrimmage.
  2. a practice session or informal game, as that played between two units of the same team.

verb (used with or without object), scrim·maged, scrim·mag·ing.

to engage in a scrimmage.

Origin of scrimmage

1425–75; late Middle English, variant of scrimish, metathetic form of skirmish

OTHER WORDS FROM scrimmage

scrim·mag·er, noun

Example sentences from the Web for scrimmage

British Dictionary definitions for scrimmage

scrimmage
/ (ˈskrɪmɪdʒ) /

noun

a rough or disorderly struggle
American football the clash of opposing linemen at every down

verb

(intr) to engage in a scrimmage
(tr) to put (the ball) into a scrimmage

Derived forms of scrimmage

scrimmager, noun

Word Origin for scrimmage

C15: from earlier scrimish, variant of skirmish