See Also: skirmish(1)(dictionary)
skirmish(2)(dictionary)
skirmish(dictionary)

fritter (iou) and skirmish (oh)


fritter (iou)



fritter verb. E18.
[from FRITTER noun2.]
verb trans. Usu. with away: do away with piecemeal, wear down, attenuate; esp. waste (time, money, energy, etc.) on trifling matters. E18.
Sunday Post (Glasgow) You won't fritter the company profits on taxi fares. J. Barnes She had watched her mother's intelligence being frittered away on calculations about the price of tinned Food.
verb trans. & intrans. Break or separate into minute pieces. Now rare. L18.
fritterer noun M19.

skirmish (oh)



[Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: escaramouche, from Old Italian scaramuccia]
a fight between small groups of soldiers, ships etc, especially one that happens away from the main part of a battle - used in news reports
skirmish with/between/over
::The young soldier was killed in a skirmish with government troops.
a short argument, especially between political or Sports opponents
skirmish with/between/over
::Bates was sent off after a skirmish with the referee.
::a budget skirmish between the President and Congress
-- skirmish v [I]
::They skirmished briefly with soldiers from Fort Benton.