1. (v. i.) To fight slightly or in small parties\; to engage in a skirmish or skirmishes; to act as skirmishers.

2. (n.) A slight fight in war; a light or desultory combat between detachments from armies, or between detached and small bodies of troops.

3. (n.) A slight contest.

action aerial combat affray ambush armored combat assault attack battle battle royal box brawl broil brush bullfight clash clash of arms close cockfight collide combat come to blows conflict confrontation contend contest cut and thrust dogfight duel embroilment encounter engagement exchange blows exchange of blows fence feud fight fight a duel fire fight fracas fray give and take give satisfaction grapple grapple with ground combat hand-to-hand combat hand-to-hand fight house-to-house combat jostle joust melee mix it up naval combat passage of arms pitched battle quarrel rassle riot rumble run a tilt run-in running fight scramble scrap scrimmage scuffle set-to shoving match showdown spar stand-up fight street fight strive struggle tauromachy thrust and parry tilt tourney tug-of-war tussle wage war war wrestle