scrum

Definition

A tightly packed and disorderly crowd of people.

Etymology

Either a back-formation from or an apocopic form of scrummage, a variant of scrimmage.

Example Sentences

• "A scrum developed around the bar when free beer was announced."
• "A scrum formed around Scott Brison in the House of Commons lobby shortly after he announced his candidacy for the federal Liberal leadership."
• "[A] group of far-right lawmakers tried to mark Jerusalem Day by forcing their way into the street inhabited by the Palestinians listed for eviction. A group of leftist and Arab lawmakers blocked their path, setting off a brief scrum, before at least one far-right lawmaker ... broke through the Arabs' lines.""

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