ambush

ambush
\ \ [14] Originally, ambush meant literally ‘put in a bush’ – or more precisely ‘hide in a wood, from where one can make a surprise attack’. The hypothetical Vulgar Latin verb *imboscāre was formed from the prefix in- and the noun *boscusbush, thicket’ (a word of Germanic origin, related to English bush). In Old French this became embuschier, and when English acquired it its prefix gradually became transformed into am-.
\ \ In the 16th century, various related forms were borrowed into English – Spanish produced ambuscado, Italian was responsible for imboscata, and French embuscade was anglicized was ambuscade – but none now survives other than as an archaism.
\ \ Cf.BUSH

Word origins - 2ed. . 2005.

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  • Ambush! — was innovative when it was released in 1983 since it was exclusively designed for single player play. Up to that point, wargames generally required at least two players. This was necessary since a player always had to play and control the… …   Wikipedia

  • Ambush — Am bush ([a^]m b[oo^]sh), n. [F. emb[^u]che, fr. the verb. See {Ambush}, v. t.] 1. A disposition or arrangement of troops for attacking an enemy unexpectedly from a concealed station. Hence: Unseen peril; a device to entrap; a snare. [1913… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • ambush — [am′boosh΄] n. [OFr embusche < embuschier: see AMBUSH the vt. vi.] 1. a deployment of persons in hiding to make a surprise attack 2. a) the persons in hiding b) their place of hiding 3. the act of so lying in wait to attack …   English World dictionary

  • ambush — vb *surprise, waylay Analogous words: *attack, assault, assail: trap, entrap, snare, ensnare, capture, *catch ambush n Ambush, ambuscade mean a device to entrap an enemy by lying in wait under cover for an opportune moment to make a surprise… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • Ambush — Am bush ([a^]m b[oo^]sh), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Ambushed} ([a^]m b[oo^]shd); p. pr. & vb. n. {Ambushing}.] [OE. enbussen, enbushen, OF. embushier, embuissier, F. emb[^u]cher, embusquer, fr. LL. imboscare; in + LL. boscus, buscus, a wood; akin to G …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • ambush — [n] lying in wait; concealed position ambuscade, ambushment, camouflage, concealment, deception, hiding, hiding place, lurking, pitfall, shelter, trap, trick*, waiting, waylaying; concepts 86,188 ambush [v] lie in wait; attack ambuscade, assail,… …   New thesaurus

  • Ambush — Am bush, v. i. To lie in wait, for the purpose of attacking by surprise; to lurk. [1913 Webster] Nor saw the snake that ambushed for his prey. Trumbull. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • ambush — I verb assail, assault, attack, attack from a concealed position, bait a trap, catch by perfidy, ensnare, entrap, lay a trap for, lie in wait for, set a trap for, snare, trap, waylay II index accost, decoy, ensnare, trap …   Law dictionary

  • ambush — ► NOUN ▪ a surprise attack by people lying in wait in a concealed position. ► VERB ▪ attack in such a way. ORIGIN Old French embusche, from a Latin word meaning to place in a wood ; related to BUSH(Cf. ↑bush) …   English terms dictionary

  • Ambush — For other uses, see Ambush (disambiguation). An ambush is a long established military tactic, in which the aggressors (the ambushing force) take advantage of concealment and the element of surprise to attack an unsuspecting enemy from concealed… …   Wikipedia

  • ambush — {{Roman}}I.{{/Roman}} noun ADJECTIVE ▪ deadly ▪ enemy VERB + AMBUSH ▪ lay, prepare, set up ▪ The soldiers set up an …   Collocations dictionary

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