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sciamachy

American  
[sahy-am-uh-kee] / saɪˈæm ə ki /

noun

plural

sciamachies

  1. an act or instance of fighting a shadow or an imaginary enemy.

sciamachy British  
/ saɪˈæməkɪ, skaɪˈæməkɪ /

noun

  1. rare a fight with an imaginary enemy

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of sciamachy

1615–25; < Greek skiamachía, equivalent to skiá shadow + -machia -machy

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

"My life is grown a bore," said he, "One long round of sciamachy; I think I'll do a little good, By way of change from angelhood."

From Lundy's Lane and Other Poems by Scott, Duncan Campbell

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.