| 释义 |
skirmisher|ˈskɜːmɪʃə(r)|
[f. prec. + -er.]
One of a number of soldiers taking part in a skirmish or acting in loose order apart from the main body of an army or battalion.
1565Cooper Thesaurus, Excursor, a skirmishar. 1579Digges Stratiot. 156 That his Skirmishers and light armed be beaten in. 1622Peacham Compl. Gentl. xx. (1634) 246 If this be exactly done the Skirmishers will never be above the length of one File behind the body of your Pikes. 1642Fuller Holy & Prof. St. iv. xvii. 329 Skirmishers are scouts for the discovery of the strength of an army, before battel be given. 1799Cavalry Instr. (1813) 269 Skirmishers are to be very attentive..in instantly obeying the signals made for their direction. 1844H. H. Wilson Brit. India III. 199 A detachment of whom..were employed as skirmishers and marksmen. 1875Kinglake Crimea V. ii. 382 Our skirmishers gained the edge of the bank.
b. transf. and fig. Something sent out in advance.
1820Scott Monast. Introd. Ep., As you usually throw out a few lines of verse (by way of skirmishers, I suppose) at the head of each division of prose. 1890Pall Mall G. 18 Jan. 1/3 We have four advertising cars, which go one, two, three and four weeks ahead. These we call ‘skirmishers’. |