▪ I. † skirm, n. Obs. rare.
[f. the vb. Cf. F. escrime, OF. escremie, eskermie, etc.]
Movement as in fencing or fighting; skirmish.
| c 1400 Destr. Troy 13541 Thus I skope fro the skathe with skyrme of my hondes. 1534 Primer in English F v, Syr, lo: here are two swerdes, thynk ye not these two be sufficient for this scyrme. |
▪ II. † skirm, v. Obs.
Forms: 3 scurmen, 3–4 skirmen, 4 skyrmen; 3 scerem-, schirme, 4–5 skirme, 4 sckyrme, 5 skyrme.
[ad. OF. eskirmir, eskermir, eschermir, etc. (also escremir: see skrim v.), f. OHG. skirman, scirman (G. schirmen) to defend, f. scirm, scerm shield, defence. Cf. skirmish v.]
1. intr. To fence, to skirmish.
| c 1205 Lay. 8144 Þeos tweien cnihtes bi-gunnen mid sceldes to scurmen. a 1225 Ancr. R. 212 Þe wreðfule biuoren þe ueonde skirmeð mid kniues. c 1330 R. Brunne Chron. Wace (Rolls) 4745 Oþer bachelers skirmede faste, Wrastlede, lepen, stones caste. c 1380 Sir Ferumb. 2227 Somme for to sckyrme asay with swerd & bokelere. c 1430 Pilgr. Lyf Manhode ii. cxxi. (1869) 120 Now j wole telle of the staf;..I skirme therwith and defende me. ? c 1450 Holland Houlat 67 (Bann. MS.), Sum bird will bay at my beke,..sum skyrme at myn e. |
b. trans. To engage with (one) in fight. rare—1.
| c 1400 Destr. Troy 13601 Þow has britnet my brether..; And now Aschatus with skath wold skirme to þe deth. |
2. intr. To dart about, move rapidly.
| 13.. E.E. Allit. P. B. 483 Ho skyrmez vnder skwe & skowtez aboute, Tyl hit was nyȝe at þe naȝt. c 1400 Destr. Troy 12500 Hit skirmyt in the skewes with a skyre low. |
Hence ˈskirming vbl. n.
In Wars Alex. 5157 the form skirmand prob. stands for skremand screaming.
| c 1275 Lay. 8144 Þeos twei cnihtes bi-gonnen to sceremigge [read -inge]. a 1300 Havelok 2323 Buttinge with sharpe speres, Skirming with taleuaces þat men beres. 13.. K. Alis. 672 (Laud MS.), Now can Alisaundre of skirmyng, As of stedes derayeyng. |