Scrum
|scrum|
/skrʌm/
(scrum)
tight, competitive close-pack or struggle
Etymology
'Scrum' originates from English, specifically as a shortened form of 'scrummage' (mid 19th century), where 'scrummage' referred to a massed contest for the ball in early forms of football and rugby.
'Scrum' was shortened from 'scrummage' (c. 1860s), which itself is related to 'scrimmage' (Middle English), and through usage in the codification of rugby the modern term 'scrum' (c. 1870s) became established.
Initially it meant 'a rough or disorderly contest or scuffle' and specifically a massed contest for the ball; over time it specialized to the formal rugby formation and later was metaphorically extended to describe tight crowds and the agile framework called Scrum.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a method of restarting play in rugby in which the forwards of each team bind together and push against the other side to compete for the ball.
During the match the Scrum pushed forward and regained possession.
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Noun 2
a disorderly or tightly packed crowd of people; a close, often pushing, cluster.
A scrum of reporters gathered at the entrance.
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Noun 3
a framework for agile project management (capitalized: Scrum) emphasizing iterative development, cross-functional teams, and regular review meetings.
Our team adopted Scrum to shorten delivery cycles and improve feedback.
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Verb 1
to form or take part in a scrum (as in rugby); to push together in a tight group.
The forwards scrum to try to win the ball back.
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Idioms
Last updated: 2025/12/19 08:10