Dictionary

squirmish en · ADJ · etymology 1

Pronunciation

• /ˈskwɜːmɪʃ/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• /ˈskwɝmɪʃ/ (General-American)

Etymology

Etymology tree English squirm Proto-Indo-European *-iskos Proto-Germanic *-iskaz Proto-West Germanic *-isk Old English -isċ Middle English -isch English -ish English squirmish From squirm + -ish.

Meanings

1. 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. 1971, U.S. Government information policies and practices--the Pentagon Papers: Hearings before a Subcommittee of the Committee on Government Operations, House of Representatives, Ninety-second Congress, first [and second] session[s], volume 4, →OCLC, page 1030:

Forms

squirmish en · NOUN · etymology 2

Pronunciation

• /ˈskwɜːmɪʃ/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• /ˈskwɝmɪʃ/ (General-American)

Etymology

Blend of squirm + skirmish.

Meanings

1. (nonce-word, proscribed) 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. 1890, Carrie L. May, “Chapter III Court Room at Squire Ford's”, in Sylvia's Burden, volume 3, J. D. Williams, page 40:
   • Or 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” and “skirmish,” both of which seem, in fact, to be occurring in and about Libya). These verbal blunders give ammunition to her political opponents and may help scuttle her as-yet-to-be-determined presidential bid. 2011 March 30, TJ Mayotte, “Dictionary Battles: The Fight to Find Meaning in Doublespeak”, in Patch, Elkridge, MD, archived from the original on 26 Mar 2016:
   • 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.") 1991, Sylvia Griffith Wheeler, This Fool History: An Oral History of Dakota Territory, volume 3, University of South Dakota Press, →ISBN:
   • 3. A battle or squirmish occurred on this property between settlers and native American Indians. Possibly from this squirmish, there was death. 2014 February 24, Paul Roberts, HPI Case Files Book 1, Lulu.com, →ISBN:
   • The recent squirmish on the use of artificial intelligence in judicial proceedings has attracted attention -— and controversy. 2020 January 9, John Alex Harrison, “XLVI THE EZ-ROBOTS”, in The Fallen Angel, Xlibris Corporation, →ISBN:
   • But right at that moment, you're standing in the way of our boys getting their eager hands on technology that could help end every squirmish before it starts, and certainly ease our negotiations with a lot of oil-rich nations. 2016 December 27, Matthew J. Elliot, edited by Elena Casagrande, Big Trouble in Little China the Illustrated Novel: Big Trouble in Mother Russia, Simon and Schuster, →ISBN, page 222:
   • Another row blows up as ten girls fight for the right to be the one to hold it above her head. For a second, Sophie hopes that the meringue will fall on all their squabbling heads as she is getting fed up with all this animosity, but she remains positive and lets them have their squirmish, safe in the knowledge she will win the battle. 2014 February 10, Carol Williamson, Blackberry Sponge with Custard, Xlibris Corporation, →ISBN:
   • 10/22/2019: Time: 11:02 a.m. Call comes in on the Paranormal Hotline. The caller is identified as Stephanie Fuller. Stephanie discovered an article I wrote about CSM James Norton who witnessed the 1977 squirmish between UFOs and our US Military. The squirmish happened at Fort Benning, Georgia. 2019 November 24, Paul Dale Roberts & Deanna Jaxine Stinson, HPI: Conquering Our Fears, Lulu.com, →ISBN:
   • The most quoted malamanteau is George W. Bush’s “I misunderestimated”. Others that have evoked smirks have been “miscommunicado” (from “miscommunicate” and “incommunicado”), “insinuendo” (from “innuendo” and “insinuation”), and “squirmish” (“squirm” and “skirmish”). 2017 December 4, Roslyn Petelin, “The horror and pleasure of misused words: from mispronunciation to malapropisms”, in The Conversation, archived from the original on 12 Nov 2024:
   • The bouncer stumbles back, as the other bouncer grabs Tank, in a bear-hug. Darrell and Michael move in- but, before the inevitable squirmish ensues, another bouncer quickly moves toward the incident. 2019 July 8, Demetrius Divine Carey, “Section 2”, in One Man's Money: A Novel, Lulu.com, →ISBN, page 44:

Forms

squirmish en · VERB · etymology 2

Pronunciation

• /ˈskwɜːmɪʃ/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• /ˈskwɝmɪʃ/ (General-American)

Etymology

Blend of squirm + skirmish.

Meanings

1. To squirmingly skirmish.

Forms

Relateds

squeamish