scrimmage
/ˈskɹɪməd͡ʒ/
Word Rarity
Rare
Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.04 in modern English
16
Scrabble Score
9
Letters
2
Syllables
8
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
In some team sports, especially soccer, a practice game which does not count on a team's record.
American usage
noun
In American football or Canadian football, a play that begins with a snap from the center while opposing teams are on either side of a line of scrimmage.
verb
To have, or be involved in, a scrimmage.
Example Sentences
- "get caught up in a scrimmage"
- "There was an instant of complete silence, but when Tough Bill threw himself on Strickland the lust of battle seized them all, and in a moment there was a confused scrimmage. Tables were overturned, glasses crashed to the ground."
- "Merchandise sales surged. The spring scrimmage, usually a yawn of an afterthought at Colorado, was packed."
- "We scrimmaged a few times and then settled into boring drills."
- "Elwood caught sight of a football field where some boys scrimmaged and yelped."
Etymology
A corruption of skirmish.
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /ˈskɹɪməd͡ʒ/
- British English: /ˈskɹɪmɪd͡ʒ/
Usage
- American usage