Military . a fight between small bodies of troops, esp. advanced or outlying detachments of opposing armies.

any brisk conflict or encounter

She had a skirmish with her landlord about the rent.

to engage in a skirmish.

noun

altercation , argument , battle , bout , brawl , brush , clash , combat , conflict , confrontation , disagreement , dispute , encounter , engagement , feud , fisticuffs * , fracas , fray , melee , quarrel , row , ruckus , rumble , run-in * , scrap * , scuffle , strife , tiff , tussle , war , run-in , fight , tilt , tournament , velitation

verb

altercate , argue , battle , bicker , brawl , clash , combat , conflict , cross swords , dispute , do battle , engage , feud , go to war , grapple , mix it up , quarrel , scrap , scuffle , spar , struggle , tussle , wage war , war , wrangle , wrestle , action , contest , encounter , fight , fray , melee , scrimmage