scrum

noun

ˈskrəm 

1

a

or scrummage

ˈskrə-mij 

: a rugby play in which the forwards of each side come together in a tight formation and struggle to gain possession of the ball using their feet when it is tossed in among them

also : the arrangement of players in a scrum

b

: a usually brief and disorderly struggle or fight : scrape, scuffle

2

a

British : madhouse sense 2

b

: a usually tightly packed or disorderly crowd : throng

scrummage intransitive verb

Synonyms

• army
• bike [chiefly Scottish]
• cram
• crowd
• crush
• drove
• flock
• herd
• horde
• host
• legion
• mass
• mob
• multitude
• press
• rout
• swarm
• throng

Examples of scrum in a Sentence

I had to fight my way through the scrum of holiday shoppers at the mall.

when the server spilled a drink on a customer, they got into a bit of a scrum before being separated

Recent Examples on the Web

That game ended when a potential game-winning, 45-yard Hail Mary pass was deflected out of a scrum, hit Bears receiver Darnell Mooney in the hands and the belly but then caromed off his foot for an interception. —Dan Wiederer, Chicago Tribune, 29 Oct. 2024

The cop and the cash Near the top of the deadly scrum, a few fought their way out. —Dan Morrison, USA TODAY, 24 Oct. 2024

Add to that a scrum with one of the film’s major financiers, Kinematics. —Mike Fleming Jr, Deadline, 11 Oct. 2024

The scrum then gives the prototype to the customer and asks for feedback. —Peter Cohan, Forbes, 8 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

short for scrummage, alteration of scrimmage

First Known Use

1848, in the meaning defined at sense 1a