definitions

bivouac

[ biv-oo-ak, biv-wak ]
/ ˈbɪv uˌæk, ˈbɪv wæk /
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noun

a military encampment made with tents or improvised shelters, usually without shelter or protection from enemy fire.
the place used for such an encampment.

verb (used without object), biv·ou·acked, biv·ou·ack·ing.

to rest or assemble in such an area; encamp.

RELATED WORDS

hover, linger, stop, live, continue, endure, stand, persist, last, prevail, survive, wait, reside, perch, tarry, rest, freeze, squat, bunk, visit

Nearby words

bivane, bivariate, biventral, bivinyl, bivoltine, bivouac, bivvy, biwa, biweekly, biyearly, biysk

Origin of bivouac

1700–10; < French < Swiss German bīwacht auxiliary patrol, equivalent to bī- by- + wacht patrol, watch
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for bivouacked

British Dictionary definitions for bivouacked

bivouac

/ (ˈbɪvʊˌæk, ˈbɪvwæk) /

noun

a temporary encampment with few facilities, as used by soldiers, mountaineers, etc

verb -acs, -acking or -acked

(intr) to make such an encampment

Word Origin for bivouac

C18: from French bivuac, probably from Swiss German Beiwacht, literally: by + watch
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012