squirmish
Collocations
4VERB + SQUIRMISH
fight, said, use, war
SQUIRMISH + NOUN
skirmish
PREP.
apropos, than
ADV.
rather
Definitions
adj
showing signs of restlessness resulting from feelings of discomfort or distress.
I think it embarrassed us a little when the Russians shot the fellow down and we denied that he was there, and the President later had to identify that as a "cover story". I remember the words, even. It made me feel a little squirmish.
noun
A skirmish.
“Ah!” resumed Stebby, “you have not known Put as long as I have. He had rather see a fight or a squirmish any time than not.” “Skirmish,” said Freeman. “Squirmish, I said,” retorted Stebby, “and yet, Put is really — well, Put is really at heart you know” “A coward,” said Put.
Usage shifted from formal to less formal with each new generation. Words themselves changed. Why, I wonder, did two old soldiers both use "squirmish" rather than "skirmish" line? (Robert Norman says of Wounded Knee confrontation: "We were ordered to make a ‘squirmish’ line around those Indians standing there.")
verb
To squirmingly skirmish.
Thesaurus
Synonyms
Antonyms
Idioms & Phrases
Example Bank
4I think it embarrassed us a little when the Russians shot the fellow down and we denied that he was there, and the President later had to identify that as a "cover story". I remember the words, even.
Wiktionary“Ah!” resumed Stebby, “you have not known Put as long as I have. He had rather see a fight or a squirmish any time than not.” “Skirmish,” said Freeman. “Squirmish, I said,” retorted Stebby, “and yet,
WiktionaryUsage shifted from formal to less formal with each new generation. Words themselves changed. Why, I wonder, did two old soldiers both use "squirmish" rather than "skirmish" line? (Robert Norman says o
WiktionaryOr ask Sarah Palin, who last year created a controversial neologism in refudiate and yesterday wondered if the situation in Libya is a war or a “squirmish,” (a rather apropos malamanteau of “squirm” a
Wiktionary