bivouac

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary
Archived revision by Mithridates (talk | contribs) as of 13:44, 31 December 2019.
Jump to navigation Jump to search

English

WOTD – 20 August 2008

Alternative forms

Etymology

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

Pronunciation

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

Noun

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.
    • 2005, Boston Globe, September 23, 2005
      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.

Translations

Verb

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.
  2. To watch at night or be on guard, as a whole army.
  3. To encamp for the night without tents or covering.

Translations

French

Alternative forms

Etymology

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

Pronunciation

Noun

bivouac m (plural bivouacs)

  1. bivouac (encampment for the night)

Derived terms

Descendants

Further reading

Retrieved from "https://en.wiktionary.org/w/index.php?title=bivouac&oldid=58266499"