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; 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

Example Sentences

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

In nearly four years of fighting, the young officers have mastered the arts of the field�silent de ployment, timely retreat, sudden concentration, plausible ambuscade, dependable supply of vegetable camouflage.

From Time Magazine Archive

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

From Time Magazine Archive

Loaded with this grain they continued their march in high spirits for about two hours, when they came suddenly on about 200 Indians, and soon after passed a deserted ambuscade.

From The Monarchs of the Main, Volume II (of 3) Or, Adventures of the Buccaneers by Thornbury, Walter