Accident in skirmish apparently (6)
I believe the answer is:
mishap
'accident' is the definition.
(mishap is a kind of accident)
'in skirmish apparently' is the wordplay.
'in' says the answer is hidden in the clue.
'MISHAP' is hidden within 'skirmish apparently'.
(Other definitions for mishap that I've seen before include "Contretemps" , "Accident, unlucky happening" , "An accident, piece of bad luck" , "Unfortunate occurrence" , "Unlucky development" .)