English Explanatory Dictionary

ambush

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. The act of concealing oneself and lying in wait to attack or kill by surprise.
  2. An attack launched from a concealed position.
  3. The concealed position or state from which a surprise attack is launched.
  4. The troops posted in a concealed place, for attacking by surprise; those who lie in wait.
verb
  1. To station in ambush with a view to surprise an enemy.
  2. To attack by ambush; to waylay.

Pronunciation

/ˈæm.bʊʃ/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-ambush.wav

Word forms

ambush ambushes ambushing ambushed

Etymology

From Middle English enbuschen, from Old French enbuscier, anbuchier (verb) (whence Middle French embusche (noun)), from Old French en- + Vulgar Latin boscus (“wood”) (whence also bouquet), from Frankish *busk (“bush”), from Proto-Germanic *buskaz (“bush, heavy stick”). Compare ambuscade. The change to am- from earlier forms in en- is unexplained. More at bush.

Synonyms

jump

Derived words

ambush bug ambushee ambusher ambush journalism ambush marketing ambushment ambush predator ambush television antiambush enambush lie in ambush counterambush ambushable outambush unambushed
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