ambuscade

American  

[am-buh-skeyd, am-buh-skeyd] / ˈæm bəˌskeɪd, ˌæm bəˈskeɪd /

noun

1. an ambush.

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verb (used without object)

ambuscaded, ambuscading

1. to lie in ambush.

verb (used with object)

ambuscaded, ambuscading

1. to attack from a concealed position; ambush.

ambuscade British  

/ ˌæmbəˈskeɪd /

noun

1. an ambush

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verb

1. to ambush or lie in ambush

Other Word Forms

• ambuscader noun

Etymology

Origin of ambuscade

1575–85; < Middle French embuscade, alteration (under influence of Old French embuschier; see ambush) of Middle French emboscade < Old Italian imboscata, feminine past participle of imboscare, verbal derivative with in- in- ² of bosco wood, forest < Germanic *bosk- bush ¹

Explanation

An ambuscade is a surprise attack. There's nothing funnier than watching your cat lie in wait behind the couch until your dog wanders over, only to be startled by the cat's ambuscade. While ambuscade is a bit old-fashioned, it's a perfectly good way to say ambush. Soldiers in battle conduct strategic ambuscades, and you may also enjoy using an ambuscade against your brother now and then, leaping out from behind a door to make him jump. It can also be used as a verb: "The dog is surprised every single time the cat ambuscades him."

Example Sentences

I have experienced and feel a profound sadness for the Marines who perished in the last ambuscade of the Sandinistas.

From Time Magazine Archive

Only about 700 Legionnaires managed to escape the ambuscade.

From Time Magazine Archive

He lost three of the next four games before he recovered from the shock of that one intellectual ambuscade.

From Time Magazine Archive

The ambuscade capped a notably disgruntling week for Labor.

From Time Magazine Archive

But the crafty Mouse, lurking under the grass in ambuscade, made sudden sallies, and often surprised the enemy at a disadvantage.

From ?sop's Fables, Embellished with One Hundred and Eleven Emblematical Devices. by ?sop