ambush
English
Etymology
From (deprecated template usage) [etyl] Old French verb enbuscier, anbuchier (whence the Middle French noun embusche), from (deprecated template usage) [etyl] Old French en- + (deprecated template usage) [etyl] Vulgar Latin boscus, bosca, boscum (“wood”), from (deprecated template usage) [etyl] Frankish *boscu, *busk (“bush”), from (deprecated template usage) [etyl] Proto-Germanic *busk- (“bush, heavy stick”). Compare ambuscade. The change to am- from earlier forms in en- is unexplained. More at bush.
Pronunciation
- Lua error in Module:parameters at line 290: Parameter 1 should be a valid language or etymology language code; the value "Australia" is not valid. See WT:LOL and WT:LOL/E. IPA(key): /ˈæm.bʊʃ/
Noun
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 by John Milton and provide title, author’s full name, and other details?)
- Heaven, whose high walls fear no assault or siege / Or ambush from the deep.
- (Can we date this quote by John Milton and provide title, author’s full name, and other details?)
- The troops posted in a concealed place, for attacking by surprise; those who lie in wait.
- (Can we date this quote?) Bible, Joshua 8:19
- The ambush arose quickly out of their place.
- (Can we date this quote?) Bible, Joshua 8:19
Derived terms
Translations
act
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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. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.
Translations to be checked
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Verb
Lua error in Module:en-headword at line 1139: Legacy parameter 1=es/ies/d no longer supported, just use 'en-verb' without params
- (transitive) To station in ambush with a view to surprise an enemy.
- (Can we date this quote by Dryden and provide title, author’s full name, and other details?)
- By ambushed men behind their temple laid / We have the king of Mexico betrayed.
- (Can we date this quote by Dryden and provide title, author’s full name, and other details?)
- (transitive) To attack by ambush; to waylay.
- 2018 June 17, Barney Ronay, “Mexico’s Hirving Lozano stuns world champions Germany for brilliant win”, in Katharine Viner, editor, The Guardian[1], London: Guardian News & Media, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 5 August 2019:
- 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.
Translations
to station in ambush with a view to surprise an enemy
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to attack by ambush; to waylay
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Further reading
- “ambush”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.
- “ambush”, in The Century Dictionary […], New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911, →OCLC.
Categories:
- English terms derived from Old French
- English terms derived from Vulgar Latin
- English terms derived from Frankish
- English terms derived from Proto-Germanic
- English 2-syllable words
- English terms with IPA pronunciation
- English lemmas
- English nouns
- English countable nouns
- Requests for date/John Milton
- English transitive verbs
- Requests for date/Dryden
- English terms with quotations