sciamachy

noun, plural sci·am·a·chies.

1. an act or instance of fighting a shadow or an imaginary enemy.

noun plural -chies

1. rare a fight with an imaginary enemy

n.“fighting with shadows, shadow-boxing” 1620s, from Greek skiamakhia “shadow-fighting, a sham fight” but perhaps literally “fighting in the shade” (i.e., in school; ancient teachers taught in shaded public places such as porches and groves), from skia “shade, shadow” (see shine (v.)) + makhe “battle” (see -machy).