Etymology

From Middle French escarmuche, from Old French escharmuche ‎(“skirmish”), from Old Italian scaramuccia ‎(“skirmish”), from Lombardic *skirmjan or Frankish *skirmijan, from Proto-Germanic *skirmijaną ‎(“to shelter”), from Proto-Indo-European *(s)ker- ‎(“to cut”). Cognate with Old High German skirmen, scirmen ‎(“to shield, defend, protect”), skirm ‎(“shade, protection”). More at skirmish, screen.