An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/Scharmützel

by Friedrich Kluge

Scharmützel, neuter, ‘skirmish,’ from the equivalent Middle High German scharmützel, scharmutzel, masculine, which, like Dutch schermutseling, are derived from Italian scarmuccia (French escarmouche), ‘skirmish,’ which again comes from Italian schermire, ‘to fight.’ The ultimate origin of the word is Old High German and Middle High German schirmen, ‘to fight.’ Compare further English skirmish.