ambush
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English[edit]
Etymology[edit]
From Old French verb enbuscier, anbuchier (whence the Middle French noun embusche), from Old French en- + Vulgar Latin boscus, bosca, boscum (“wood”), from Frankish *boscu, *busk (“bush”), from Proto-Germanic *busk- (“bush, heavy stick”). Compare ambuscade. The change to am- from earlier forms in en- is unexplained. More at bush.
Pronunciation[edit]
- (General Australian, US, UK) IPA(key): /ˈæm.bʊʃ/
Noun[edit]
ambush (plural ambushes)
- The act of concealing oneself and lying in wait to attack by surprise.
- An attack launched from a concealed position.
- (Can we date this quote?) John Milton
- Heaven, whose high walls fear no assault or siege / Or ambush from the deep.
- (Can we date this quote?) John Milton
- The troops posted in a concealed place, for attacking by surprise; those who lie in wait.
- (Can we date this quote?) Bible, Josh. viii. 19
- The ambush arose quickly out of their place.
- (Can we date this quote?) Bible, Josh. viii. 19
Derived terms[edit]
Translations[edit]
act
attack
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troops
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- The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables, removing any numbers. Numbers do not necessarily match those in definitions. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout#Translations.
Translations to be checked
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Verb[edit]
ambush (third-person singular simple present ambushes, present participle ambushing, simple past and past participle ambushed)
- (transitive) To station in ambush with a view to surprise an enemy.
- (transitive) To attack by ambush; to waylay.
- 17 June 2018, Barney Ronay, The Guardian, Mexico’s Hirving Lozano stuns world champions Germany for brilliant win:
- The contrast with the start was profound. In the opening 40 minutes Löw’s team had been ambushed here, the world champions run into a state of breathless trauma by a thrillingly vibrant Mexico attack.
- 17 June 2018, Barney Ronay, The Guardian, Mexico’s Hirving Lozano stuns world champions Germany for brilliant win:
Translations[edit]
to station in ambush with a view to surprise an enemy
to attack by ambush; to waylay
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