scrum

[ skruhm ]

noun

1. a rugby play in which three members of each team line up opposite one another with a group of two and a group of three players behind them: the ball is then rolled between the opposing front lines and players attempt to kick the ball backward to a teammate.
2. a project management method often used in agile development, centering around a small team with a schedule of short, fixed-length work cycles, each of which is used to complete some chunk of a complex or ongoing project. sprint ( def 6 ).
3. a place or situation of confusion and racket; hubbub.
4. a chaotic, rushed attempt by multiple reporters to question one or more politicians, celebrities, etc.:

   The minister always left meetings through a back door to avoid the daily scrum.

verb (used without object)

, scrummed, scrum·ming.

1. to engage in a scrum.

scrum

/ skrʌm /

noun

1. rugby the act or method of restarting play after an infringement when the two opposing packs of forwards group together with heads down and arms interlocked and push to gain ground while the scrum half throws the ball in and the hookers attempt to scoop it out to their own team. A scrum is usually called by the referee ( set scrum ) but may be formed spontaneously ( loose scrum )
2. informal.
   a disorderly struggle

verb

1. intrusually foll bydown rugby to form a scrum

Word History and Origins

Origin of scrum¹

First recorded in 1885–90; short for scrummage

Word History and Origins

Origin of scrum¹

C19: shortened from scrummage

Example Sentences

The very short headline set was pretty typical Carti–ripping live metal guitars, frantic redlined vocals and a scrum of new cuts like “Ketamine” that seethed with tension and circle-pit chaos.

From Los Angeles Times

Still, Portugal found a way to execute via a big scrum under the Scottish posts that sent the hosts backwards.

From BBC

The turning of the scrum screw late on switched the teams’ tracks in the 2023 semi-final, consigning England to defeat and advancing South Africa to the final.

From BBC

Over the past five years, the golden generation of South Africa forwards have developed arguably the most formidable and feared scrum in rugby.

From BBC

"You have got to stick to our process, I think our scrum has been good over the last two weeks."

From BBC