noun / verb

scrimmage

SKRIM-ij/ˈskrɪmɪdʒ/

An informal game played to practice a team sport.

The basketball team plays a scrimmage to prepare for Saturday's game.

Four adult basketball players in plain practice bibs—two orange, two blue—crowd around a loose basketball, crouching and reaching to gain possession during a scrimmage. A single hoop and two training cones establish an otherwise empty practice gym. Use bold silhouettes and a tight, uncluttered composition readable at 340×255; no lettering.

Etymology

Escarmouche meant a small, irregular fight. The image of a tussle carried into sports as a close struggle around the ball, then extended to a practice contest between opposing squads.

In context

Nina Fogelman2:11

uh my name is Libby Nichols I'm 18 years old I'm playing lacrosse right now it's awesome like I love the team I love my coaches we had our first scrimmage yesterday and we won 14 to four

Pleasure and Philanthropy

More examples

Our soccer team scrimmages against a nearby school every Friday.
The coach stops the scrimmage to explain a defensive mistake.
We scrimmaged for twenty minutes after warming up.

Forms

scrimmage · scrimmages · scrimmaged · scrimmaging

Similar words

practice: Includes drills and exercises, not just playing a game.
exhibition: Usually a public game outside official standings, rather than team practice.