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

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

From Time Magazine Archive

The general belief was that the King was a chance victim of the ambuscade which was intended for the Orchanie-Sofia autobus, occupants of which were known to be carrying large sums of money.

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

On the other hand, Major Van Horne should have heeded the information he received, that the enemy were in advance, in position, and not allowed his little army to rush into an ambuscade.

From The Second War with England, Vol. 1 of 2 by Headley, Joel Tyler