noun
scrimmage
SKRIH-mihj
noun
1
In American or Canadian football, a play starting when the ball is snapped, or more generally a practice match that doesn't count officially.
"The team held a scrimmage before the season opener."
"They ran ten plays from scrimmage in practice."
verb
1
To engage in a scrimmage.
"The two squads scrimmaged for an hour after training."
How to Use Scrimmage
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA practice game, or the specific play-start moment in football where the ball is snapped.
Common pairings
line of scrimmage
hold a scrimmage
scrimmage match
Word Forms
scrimmaged past tense, scrimmages plural, scrimmages singular
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The team held a _____ before the season opener.
Etymology
A worn-down form of "skirmish," originally meaning a minor scuffle before narrowing to its football sense.