squirmish

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.

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.")

To squirmingly skirmish.