noun
skirmisher
Military term for a soldier deployed in loose formation ahead of the main force, used for scouting or harassing the enemy. Not an everyday word.
散兵が敵の位置を探るために前進した。
The skirmishers advanced to scout the enemy's position.
Compound of 散 (scatter) and 兵 (soldier), literally 'scattered soldiers'. The reading さんぺい follows standard on'yomi.