ambuscade
Americannoun
verb (used without object)
verb (used with object)
noun
verb
Other Word Forms
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."
Vocabulary lists containing ambuscade
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
The ambuscade capped a notably disgruntling week for Labor.
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
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
So it was in this ambuscade so gloriously planned.
From Wise Saws and Modern Instances, Volume II (of 2) by Thomas Cooper
Kabba Rega had no doubt ordered the various routes towards Rionga's province to be ambuscaded.
From Ismailia by Sir Samuel White Baker
But since they rode straight for the hills, he feared that if he followed he himself would be ambuscaded.
From The Treasure of the Tigris A Tale of Mesopotamia by A. F. Mockler Ferryman
He tripped them up with facts, ambuscaded them with facts, bombarded them with broadsides of facts.
From The Iron Heel by Jack London
Here, in 1776, a troop of Sheldon's Horse ambuscaded a body of Hessians, only one of whom escaped.
From The New York and Albany Post Road From Kings Bridge to "The Ferry at Crawlier, over against Albany," Being an Account of a Jaunt on Foot Made at Sundry Convenient Times between May and November, Nineteen Hundred and Five by C. G. (Charles Gilbert) Hine
Perceiving, from the intermittent fire, that it was a small party which had ambuscaded him, Marin, the Indian scout and leader, attempted a landing below the Americans, in order to cut off their retreat.
From "Old Put" The Patriot by Frederick Albion Ober
Colonel Butler hearing the firing on his right and rear imagined he was discovered, and that instead of ambuscading the rebels, he was himself to be surprised by this unexpected attack in the rear.
From The Journal of Lieut. John L. Hardenbergh of the Second New York Continental Regiment from May 1 to October 3, 1779, in General Sullivan's Campaign Against the Western Indians With an Introduction, Copious Historical Notes, and Maps of the Battle-field of Newtown and Groveland Ambuscade by John Leonard Hardenbergh
Re-enforcements came from Holland, and under Calabar's guidance the Dutch learned the value of ambuscading and made sudden expeditions which took the important settlements by surprise.
From The South American Republics Part I of II by Thomas C. Dawson
And there they prospered for a blessed time Until Elimelech in his lordly prime, Hasting those cattle-spoilers to pursue, The ambuscading sons of Anak slew.
From A Celtic Psaltery by Alfred Perceval Graves
The ambuscading forces now made their presence known, and, displaying their hats upon the muzzles of their guns, made a show of twice their actual strength.
From Vermont A Study of Independence by Rowland E. (Evans) Robinson
I again succeeded in ambuscading them, which caused them to give up the pursuit for the night.
From The Battle of Atlanta and Other Campaigns, Addresses, Etc. by Grenville Mellen Dodge
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