First Known Use: 15th century
Dictionary
1scrimmage
noun scrim·mage \ˈskri-mij\
American football : the point in a game at which the center passes or throws the ball to the quarterback
: an informal game that is played for practice : a game that is not official
Full Definition of SCRIMMAGE
2
a : the interplay between two football teams that begins with the snap of the ball and continues until the ball is dead b : practice play (as in football or basketball) between two squads
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Origin of SCRIMMAGE
Middle English scrymmage, alteration of skyrmissh skirmish
Related to SCRIMMAGE
Other Field and Goal Sports Terms
Rhymes with SCRIMMAGE
2scrimmage
verb
: to play in a scrimmage
scrim·magedscrim·mag·ing
Full Definition of SCRIMMAGE
intransitive verb
: to take part in a scrimmage
transitive verb
: to play a scrimmage against
— scrim·mag·er noun
See scrimmage defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of SCRIMMAGE
circa 1825
Rhymes with SCRIMMAGE
SCRIMMAGE Defined for Kids
scrimmage
noun scrim·mage \ˈskri-mij\
Definition of SCRIMMAGE for Kids
1
: the action between two football teams when one attempts to move the ball down the field
2
: a practice game between two teams or between two groups from the same team
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