bivouac

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English[edit]

Alternative forms[edit]

Etymology[edit]

Unadapted borrowing from French bivouac (earlier biouac, bivac), from Alemannic German Biiwacht (reinforcements of guard or town watch), from bii- + Wacht (watch, guard).

Pronunciation[edit]

  • IPA(key): /ˈbɪv.u.æk/, /ˈbɪv.wæk/
  • (file)
  • Rhymes: -æk

Noun[edit]

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bivouac (plural bivouacs)

  1. An encampment for the night, usually without tents or covering.
  2. Any temporary encampment.
  3. A temporary shelter constructed generally for a few nights.
    • September 23, 2005, Boston Globe:
      The outing begins by Thursday noon, when the recreational vehicles start rumbling into town and their owners set up bivouacs.
  4. (dated) The watch of a whole army by night, when in danger of surprise or attack.
  5. (zoology) A structure formed by migratory ants out of their own bodies to protect the queen and larvae.

Derived terms[edit]

Translations[edit]

Verb[edit]

bivouac (third-person singular simple present bivouacs or bivouacks, present participle bivouacing or bivouacking, simple past and past participle bivouacked)

  1. To set up camp.
    We'll bivouac here tonight.
    • 1951, C. S. Lewis, Prince Caspian: The Return to Narnia:
      They reached the fir wood which had caused them so much trouble while it was still daylight, and bivouacked in a hollow just above it. It was tedious gathering the fire wood; []
  2. To watch at night or be on guard, as a whole army.
  3. To encamp for the night without tents or covering.

Translations[edit]

French[edit]

Alternative forms[edit]

Etymology[edit]

From earlier bivoie, biouac, bivac, from Alemannic German Biiwacht (a patrol of citizens added - in time of alarm or commotion - to the regular town watch), from bii- (by-) + Wacht (watch, guard).

Pronunciation[edit]

Noun[edit]

bivouac m (plural bivouacs)

  1. bivouac (encampment for the night)

Derived terms[edit]

Descendants[edit]

Further reading[edit]