ambush

[am-boosh]

noun

1. an act or instance of lying concealed so as to attack by surprise.

   The highwaymen waited in ambush near the road.

2. an act or instance of attacking unexpectedly from a concealed position.

3. the concealed position itself.

   They fired from ambush.

4. those who attack suddenly and unexpectedly from a concealed position.

verb (used with object)

1. to attack from ambush.

ambush

/ ˈæmbʊʃ /

noun

1. the act of waiting in a concealed position in order to launch a surprise attack

2. a surprise attack from such a position

3. the concealed position from which such an attack is launched

4. the person or persons waiting to launch such an attack

verb

1. to lie in wait (for)

2. (tr) to attack suddenly from a concealed position

Other Word Forms

• ambusher noun
• ambushlike adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of ambush¹

1250–1300; (v.) Middle English enbuss ( h ) en < Middle French embuschier to place men in ambush, literally, to set in the woods, equivalent to em- im- ¹ + busch- (< Vulgar Latin *busca wood, forest < Germanic *busk- heavy stick) + -ier infinitive suffix; (noun) earlier enbusshe < Middle French embusche, derivative of the v.

Word History and Origins

Origin of ambush¹

C14: from Old French embuschier to position in ambush, from em- _im- + -buschier, from busche piece of firewood, probably of Germanic origin; see _bush ¹

Example Sentences

Jurors heard Plumb's plan involved an "ambush" of Ms Willoughby at her family home - even discussing taking time off work to organise the attack.

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Just over a week later, however, a convoy of Africa Corps and Malian fighters drove into an ambush in the country’s Saharan north.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Last week, a convoy of President Noboa was also ambushed by protesters.

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Carolina Jaramillo said the convoy - which included UN and EU diplomats - was delivering aid to affected communities during a national strike when ambushed by about 350 people, who attacked it with Molotov cocktails.

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Steven Lyons and an associate, Robert Pickett, were injured in the ambush, which was later described in court as "like a scene out of The Godfather".

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Related Words

• assault 
• surround 
• trap 
• waylay